LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Carbon Emissions

Anne Main: To ask the Leader of the House when the Privy Council Office began to measure its carbon emissions; what the volume of those emissions was in the last period for which figures are available; when the Office started to offset those emissions; what the cost is expected to be of offsetting the Office's emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The majority of the staff of the Privy Council Office (PCO), including my office, are located in premises which are managed by other Government Departments or in the Palace of Westminster. The one building wholly managed by the PCO currently houses fewer than 30 staff and has not had a specific assessment of its carbon footprint. The PCO is, however, run in accordance with a green procurement policy which seeks to minimise its carbon footprint in a variety of ways. These include the use of energy efficient light bulbs and electrical equipment, minimising energy use and evaluating, as appropriate, the environmental performance of tenderers when relevant to any contracts.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Scott Inquiry

David Lidington: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry by Peter Scott QC into criticisms made of the Northern Ireland Office by Mr. Justice Girvan; and what the expected timescale is of the inquiry.

Mike O'Brien: There is a large amount of documentation for Mr. Scott to consider in the course of his review. To date he has received 13 lever arch files of material and is expecting a further 18 within days. Additional material has been requested by him.
	Full statements have been requested from a number of individuals in response to detailed questionnaires prepared by the review team. The witnesses were given four weeks to provide replies and these are now expected in early February. By that time Mr. Scott expects to be in possession of all the documentation and witness statements from others; if oral evidence is required—either to provide further information or for clarification—he expects such hearings to be held no later than fours weeks after the date of the last witness statement requested. Subject to any further steps that he may decide to be necessary at that stage, he will report to the Attorney-General as soon as possible thereafter.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Photocopying Facilities

Keith Simpson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to improve the photocopying facilities in the Library.

Nick Harvey: The Library's photocopiers are leased and maintained under contract. Meetings with the supplier are held on a quarterly basis where the performance of each machine is reviewed.
	The House of Commons Central Procurement Office will shortly begin a tender exercise for photocopiers. The intention is to replace a number of existing contracts in different parts of the House with a single contract. An initial advertisement will be placed in the EU  Official Journal in the spring, with the aim of signing a new contract in the second half of 2007.
	Under the new contract all photocopiers will progressively be replaced on a rolling basis. Replacement of the machines in the Members' Library will be a high priority once the new contract is in place.

WALES

Carbon Emissions

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Office began to measure its carbon emissions; what the volume of those emissions was in the last period for which figures are available; when his Office started to offset those emissions; what the cost is expected to be of offsetting his Office's emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Carbon Trust completed an audit of the Wales Office energy usage in May 2006, showing that the volume of emissions for the year was 302 tonnes.
	The Wales Office are planning to offset all carbon emissions recorded by the Carbon Trust together with our carbon footprint calculated from both air and road travel at the end of the financial year. This will be achieved using one of the companies accredited with meeting the DEFRA standards for carbon offset schemes referred to in the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 January 2007. We expect to spend around £4,000 offsetting our emissions.

Departmental Fixed Assets

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which fixed assets his Department sold for more than £10,000 in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; and what the (i) sale value, (ii) purchaser and (iii) date of sale was of each asset.

Peter Hain: None.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Correspondence

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter of 4 December 2006, from the hon. Member for South-West Surrey about the Global Fund.

Hilary Benn: A reply to this was issued on 18 January.

Displaced Karen People

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department has put in place to provide support for the displaced Karen people on the border between Burma and Thailand.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is very concerned about the humanitarian situation for internally displaced people in Burma. We have been working hard to find innovative ways to increase the amount of aid reaching them.
	There are three types of internally displaced people in the east of Burma, near the Thai-Burma border. These are (with the latest available numbers from October 2006):
	(1) people in temporary settlements in ceasefire areas under ethnic nationality administration (287,000);
	(2) villagers who have been evicted by the Burmese Government and moved into designated relocation sites (118,000); and
	(3) civilians hiding from the Burmese army in areas most affected by armed conflict (95, 000).
	In response to the 2006 military offensive against the Karen, which has swelled the number of civilians hiding in conflict areas, DFID has provided emergency assistance by working through local community groups inside Burma. The local community groups also provide support to internally displaced people in relocation sites and other areas controlled by the Burmese authorities.
	This support complements that of relief teams working cross-border from Thailand, as each approach accesses different groups of internally displaced people who may not be reached by any other means. And we recognise the importance of maintaining coordination with all those funding and delivering assistance both in-country and cross-border to ensure that the international community manages to reach as many internally displaced people as possible.
	DFID also provided support to internally displaced people in temporary settlements in ceasefire areas in eastern Burma (mostly in Karen State) through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2006. Approximately 75 per cent. of our £500,000 contribution was used for protection work with displaced people in this area, and the delivery of medical supplies and improvement of their water supply and sanitation. Following the forced closure of ICRC's field operations later in the year, DFID, with the British embassy in Rangoon, has been continuing to press the Burmese authorities to reconsider their decision. We remain in close contact with ICRC on the developing situation.
	In addition, our health, education and rural livelihood projects provide assistance in eastern Burma, and support internally displaced people in temporary settlements and designated relocation sites, as well as other vulnerable people. For example, in Karen State, our Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar supports World Vision projects in two townships, Save the Children UK projects in four townships and Care projects in five townships, as well as supporting other national non-governmental organisations. DFID-funded rural livelihoods and pre-primary education projects are about to start in Karen State.
	Furthermore, DFID funds non-governmental organisations working among displaced Burmese (mainly Karen) people in the refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border—as a grant to the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) of £1.8 million over three years. The UK contributes approximately the same amount again as its share of the EC's support to TBBC. The British embassy in Bangkok advocates on behalf of Burmese refugees living in Thailand through the United Nations high commission for refugees to improve the situation in the refugee camps in Thailand and to bring about a relaxation of the regulations prohibiting freedom of movement and employment outside the camps.

Legal Advice

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by the Department on external legal advice in each of the past five years.

Hilary Benn: DFID obtains its legal advice from three main sources—the Treasury Solicitor's Department, FCO Legal Advisers and Crown Agents Legal Advisers, which we and the Cabinet Office regard as in-house legal advisers—and very rarely uses external legal advisers in the UK. The costs set out in the table relate to legal advice provided on a UK property issue and represent our best data without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Cost of legal advice (£) 
			 2005-06 7,678 
			 2006-07 13,458 
		
	
	Our overseas offices may obtain advice from local legal advisers on a range of foreign domestic issues, from foreign accommodation leases to local employment law but information on these costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Development Assistance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the UK's Overseas Development Assistance is projected to come from departments other than his Department in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007; what the figures were in each year between 2001 and 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Information on the projected proportion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Government organisations other than DFID is not held centrally. The following table contains the proportion of ODA from Government organisations other than DFID as a proportion of total ODA from 2001 to 2005.
	
		
			  Proportion of ODA from Government organisations other than DFID, 2001 to 2005 
			   Non-DFID ODA as a percentage of total ODA 
			 2001 12.1 
			 2002 20.1 
			 2003 11.7 
			 2004 16.6 
			 2005 35.8

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its executive agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The total cash equivalent transfer value for pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in DFID is £6,459,922, as at 31 March 2006. One of these individuals is not a member of the civil service pension scheme arrangements and therefore there is no cash equivalent transfer value. Seven of the individuals are members of the senior management team who are named in the 2005-06 Remuneration Report and the cash equivalent transfer value of their public sector pensions is reported annually.

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries are engaged in negotiating a voluntary partnership agreement on timber trade with the EU; and which countries have expressed an interest in forming a voluntary agreement with the EU.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 19 January 2007
	Preliminary discussions about Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade partnership agreements have been held with Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Malaysia and the Republic of Congo. Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia have now entered into formal negotiations with the European Union. Other countries are expected to announce their wish to start negotiations in the coming months.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arms Sales

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the  (a) number and  (b) value of arms sales by China to African countries in the last 12 months.

Ian McCartney: The People's Republic of China does not publish details of its arms exports, and last submitted data to the UN Register on Conventional Arms covering its exports in 1996. It is not therefore possible to provide figures on either the total number or value of Chinese arms exports to Africa. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with the Chinese Government on a wide range of international issues, including Africa and the arms trade. Within this dialogue we encourage China to increase the transparency of its arms exports and we work with China as it seeks to improve its export controls. The UK is leading calls for an international arms trade treaty, with the aim of ending irresponsible arms trading that fuels internal conflict, external aggression or regional instability, and human rights abuses. We are encouraging China to engage positively in the UN process that will take this initiative forward.

ASEAN

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Association of South East Asian States (ASEAN) members on a charter for the association; what assessment she has made of the potential effects of the proposal to change ASEAN's policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member countries; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on  (a) regional relations in South East Asia and  (b) the Burmese regime.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made no representation to the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the ASEAN charter. However, I have spoken to the ASEAN London Committee (ASEAN ambassadors and high commissioners in London) and the ASEAN Secretary-General on the issue. He updated me on the progress of the charter and indicated that it would contain a reference to human rights. The nature of this reference would be considered during the drafting process.
	ASEAN Leaders appointed an Eminent Persons Group, mandated to provide practical recommendations on the direction and nature of the ASEAN Charter. The Group presented its recommendations at the ASEAN Summit on 13 January. ASEAN Leaders are now likely to appoint a drafting task force to begin work on drafting the charter. It is therefore too early to assess the outcome of the process and the impact it might have on regional relations in South East Asia and on the Burmese regime.

Bangladesh

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the current political situation in Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 16 January 2006,  Official Report, column 994W.
	Further to that answer I reiterate that we fully recognise the importance to Bangladesh of free, fair, credible, peaceful and universally accepted elections. The UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our high commission in Dhaka, has adopted and is implementing without preference or favour, a policy of active engagement with the political parties and the institutions responsible for the electoral process in Bangladesh. We have, and continue to urge, a constructive dialogue to find an early and democratic political solution acceptable to the people of Bangladesh that ensures the security of voters, political leaders and activists and the media. We look to the caretaker Government, law enforcement agencies and the parties themselves to take responsibility and to demonstrate leadership and restraint to ensure this.

Bermuda

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) reports she has commissioned and  (b) representations she has received from (i) the Defence Board of Bermuda and (ii) the Governor of Bermuda which made reference to the practice of conscription to the Royal Bermuda Regiment in the last five years other than the Report submitted by Colonel Baxter in November 2005.

Kim Howells: No reports have been commissioned or representations received from either the Defence Board or the Governor of Bermuda which make reference to the practice of conscription to the Bermuda Regiment in the last five years other than the report submitted by Colonel Baxter in November 2005.

British Citizens: Convictions Abroad

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many referrals the Consular Department has made to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency of British prisoners  (a) released and  (b) deported from abroad in (i) the last 12 months and (ii) each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Hallam (Mr. Clegg) on 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 830W, and 19 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1405W.

Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Government of Chad on  (a) demobilising child soldiers and  (b) ending the recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups operating within Chadian territory;
	(2)  what steps are being taken by her Department to support the demobilisation of child soldiers within Chad.

Ian McCartney: We have not had discussions with the Government of Chad regarding the mobilisation and recruitment of child soldiers. We have seen the UN Secretary-General's report on Children and Armed Conflict which states that there are reports of forced recruitment of children from refugee camps in Eastern Chad by rebel forces.
	The UK is committed to tackling the issue of child soldiers and we are using the levers that are available to us both internationally and bilaterally. We continue to support the UN's increased focus on this issue and have fully supported the Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict. We raise our voice to roundly condemn the recruitment and use of children in this way. We support strategies to address this issue through demobilising the children, and then rehabilitating and reintegrating them into their communities. The UK is also actively involved in the UN Security Council Working Group on children and armed conflict.

Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if she will press the Government of Chad to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in attacks on civilians;
	(2)  if she will press the Government of Chad to deploy military personnel, police and resources to conflict areas in eastern Chad to ensure that civilians are protected from attack.

Ian McCartney: We have underscored the need for the Government of Chad to protect their civilians in our discussions with Chad and in statements made by the UN Security Council, which we have supported. We will continue to urge the Government of Chad to make every effort to protect their civilians in Eastern Chad, particularly those most vulnerable to attack. We condemn the violence that has resulted in the displacement of around 90,000 Chadians in Eastern Chad and urge the Government of Chad to bring to justice the perpetrators of the violence.

Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if she will press her counterparts at the UN to provide support and funding for humanitarian activities to support Sudanese refugees and internally displaced persons in Chad;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with her counterparts on the United Nations Security Council on the Government of Chad's support for armed groups responsible for attacks on civilians.

Ian McCartney: The UK has played an active role in the ongoing discussions in the UN Security Council regarding the continuing conflict in Eastern Chad. Together with our partners in the UN Security Council, the UK supported a presidency statement of 15 December 2006, which called on the Government of Chad to
	"do all it can to protect its civilian population"
	and
	"expressed its grave concern regarding the increase in military activities of armed groups in Eastern Chad".
	Along with close UN partners, such as France and the US, we are pressing the UN to provide early plans for a mission in Chad as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 1706. This would provide support for the UN's present humanitarian activities. The UK, through the Department for International Development, last year provided £4 million in emergency aid.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department has made any recent representations to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on security sector reform.

Ian McCartney: Ministers and UK officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regularly raised the urgent need to reform the Congolese security sector with the transitional Government. During his last visit to the DRC in September 2006, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development discussed with President Kabila the particular need to ensure proper training, equipment and payment for Congolese soldiers. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also referred to this when he met President Kabila last month.
	Once the new Government is in place, we, along with EU partners, will continue to underline to the Congolese authorities the importance of reforming the security sector. We will continue—bilaterally, through the EU and with South Africa—to provide expertise and appropriate financial support to the planning process and project implementation.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the case for MONUC peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the presidential election; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has played a crucial role in creating and maintaining stability in the DRC, giving extensive logistical support to the elections process and in helping mediate during political and military crises. It is important that MONUC retains sufficient military and civilian capacity to continue its role in stabilising the DRC until the new government has bedded down and has extended its own authority across the country. This will be a gradual process, and the future drawdown of MONUC's capacity will therefore need to be well planned and reflect the situation on the ground.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage the international donor community to increase their commitment to the Democratic Republic of Congo in light of the recent presidential election.

Ian McCartney: The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with £62 million available in bilateral assistance this financial year. We have said that we expect this to increase further, as long as the democratic process in the DRC remains on track. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with the Department for International Development (DFID) in London and in Kinshasa to ensure a co-ordinated UK approach in the DRC. Our Ambassador and the Head of the DFID office in Kinshasa also work closely with other donors—the UN, World Bank, EU, US and South Africa in particular—to ensure that diplomatic and financial support to the DRC is in line with the country's needs and that donors are co-ordinated in their respective strategies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has been at the forefront of calls for donors to support the UN's Humanitarian Action Plan in DRC, to which the UK is one of the leading donors.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the security situation in Ituri, Kivus and Katanga provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian McCartney: The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains fragile, particularly in Ituri, the Kivus and northern Katanga. Congolese militia and foreign armed groups continue to abuse local populations and the Congolese army continues to pose a threat to peace and stability. But successful elections, for which the UK was the leading bilateral donor, should help the process of stabilisation. The UK is also actively supporting Congolese army reform, which should help the army play a positive role in future. And we will maintain our support to the Congolese Government, MONUC (the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC) and other partners in their efforts to secure an end to the conflict and lasting peace in the DRC.

Dr. Andrew Lutakome Kayiira

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action she has taken since the report by Scotland Yard into the murder of Dr. Andrew Lutakome Kayiira in Uganda; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: President Museveni requested that the Metropolitan police assist the Uganda police with the investigation into the death of Dr. Kayiira in 1987. A report was completed on 7 May 1987 and handed to the Inspector General of Police in Kampala. Following recent allegations regarding Dr. Kayiira's death, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office assisted the Government of Uganda to obtain another copy of the report from the Metropolitan police. The contents of that report and the investigations into Dr. Kayiira's death are a matter for the Government of Uganda.

Ethiopia

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with European Union partners about Ethiopian political development.

Ian McCartney: We regularly discuss political developments in Ethiopia with EU partners.
	In Addis Ababa, with our EU partners, we continue to encourage both the Government of Ethiopia and opposition to move forward with the democratisation process and to work towards political reconciliation. The EU has regular dialogue with the Government on governance and human rights issues and the Government are now beginning to take steps to create space for opposition parties to contribute and participate in the House of Peoples' Representatives.
	We continue to urge the Government of Ethiopia to open up the political space and encourage open debate with all parts of society.

EU Neighbourhood Policy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities she plans under the auspices of the EU Neighbourhood Policy; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The UK is a strong supporter of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as a means of promoting democracy, stability and prosperity in the wider region, and is working with EU partners to underline and reinforce the importance of this policy. 11 ENP action plans have been agreed with our eastern and southern neighbours and these provide valuable frameworks to engage with partner countries on a range of social, economic and political reform issues. The Government support the development of the ENP so that it is as effective as possible. We therefore welcomed the Commission communication published on 4 December 2006, which set out proposals for providing stronger incentives for countries to undertake difficult reforms. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the German Presidency and with other EU partners to develop these ideas.

Export Support

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by UK Trade and Investment on export support in each of the last three years; and how much has been allocated for 2007-08.

Ian McCartney: The following net amounts were spent by UK Trade and Investment on export support in each of the last three financial years:
	
		
			  Financial year  000 
			 2005-06 225,993 
			 2004-05 235,780 
			 2003-04 250,433 
		
	
	We have not yet finalised budget allocations for 2007-08.

Government Response Mechanisms

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a mechanism exists to enable the Government to respond formally to recommendations of the  (a) Assembly of Western European Union and  (b) the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Geoff Hoon: There are no formal procedures or mechanisms in place for national Governments to respond directly to recommendations from the Assembly of the Western European Union. We do, however, take these into consideration in policy formulation.
	Recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are presented to the Committee of Ministers for consideration and reply.

India

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with members of the Indian Government regarding the human rights of Dalit people on her recent visit to India.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not raise the human rights of Dalits during her recent visit to India. However, officials from our High Commission in New Delhi have regular discussions on minority rights, including Dalit rights, with the Government of India at central and state level. They have held discussions with national level bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Dalits) and Scheduled Tribes and the National Commission for Minorities, most recently in June 2006.
	On the EU's behalf, the EU Troika highlighted the high level of parliamentary and public interest in Dalit issues during the EU-India human rights dialogue with the Government of India, which took place in December 2006.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) political,  (b) legal,  (c) technical and  (d) procedural options her Department plans to present at the May 2007 preparatory committee meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to implement article six of the treaty; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are strongly committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The UK is determined to make every effort to ensure that this review cycle results in a positive and substantive final document at the 2010 review conference that moves forward all aspects of treaty implementation, including disarmament. We will work with allies and EU partners over the coming weeks and at the May 2007 NPT preparatory committee to lay the groundwork for this. We believe we have already made a contribution by announcing, in the White Paper on the Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent, a further 20 per cent. cut in our warhead stockpile.

Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) name and  (b) location is of each official residence of which she has use.

Margaret Beckett: When working in London, I reside at No. l Carlton Gardens. On occasion I also use the Foreign Secretary's official country residence in Chevening, Kent.

Pakistan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has held with her Pakistani counterparts on counter terrorism.

Kim Howells: We discuss counter terrorism with the Pakistani Government regularly. It was one of the main topics of discussion during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan in November 2006. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Musharraf reiterated their joint determination to combat terrorism and extremism in all forms.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed counter terrorism with her Pakistani counterparts.

Sri Lanka

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of reports that a Sri Lankan Government Minister was involved in disrupting a political rally by the United People's Movement in Colombo.

Kim Howells: We understand that on 9 January a peaceful and legal demonstration by the United People's Movement in Colombo was cancelled after disruption and intimidation. The demonstration organisers have alleged that a junior Minister in the Sri Lankan Government was involved in the disruption. The Minister in turn has denied the allegation.
	There has in recent weeks been an increasing level of restriction on the freedom of expression of some individuals and sectors of the Sri Lankan media that advocate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to uphold international standards and the rights of those involved in journalism and legitimate democratic debate.

Sudan and Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts on the United Nations Security Council on the deployment of an international presence of military personnel and human rights monitors along the Chad/Sudan border.

Ian McCartney: We regularly discuss Sudan and Chad with our Security Council partners. The UK has been active in pressing the UN Secretary-General to follow up the request to him in UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to deploy a multi-disciplinary force to the border areas of Chad and the Central African Republic. On 22 December 2006 the Secretary-General presented a report to the Security Council with preliminary recommendations on the issue. The Secretary-General is to authorise the immediate return to the region of his technical assessment mission; this had visited in November but had been unable to complete its work for security reasons. Following the latest round of discussions on a peacekeeping force for Chad, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on 17 January, asking the Secretary-General to submit updated recommendations on a UN force by the middle of February. It also asked him to send an advance mission to start making preparations for the deployment of such a force.

Sudan and Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by her Department to engage with Sudanese rebel movements to press upon them the importance  (a) of taking all necessary steps to ensure combatants comply with international humanitarian law and of holding accountable those who fail to do so,  (b) ceasing support for militia and Chadian self-defence groups responsible for attacks on civilians and  (c) ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

Ian McCartney: We remain in contact with a range of Sudanese rebel representatives based outside Darfur. Access to military commanders within Darfur is more difficult, but the then UK Special Representative for Darfur, Rod Pullen, met groups of them in August 2006 and officials from our Embassy in Khartoum held follow-up meetings in October 2006. We use our contacts with the rebels, as with the Government of Sudan, to press them to stop fighting and to resume a political process; to respect international humanitarian law; and to provide safe and unrestricted access to humanitarian agencies. We call on those responsible for supporting attacks on civilians in Chad or elsewhere to stop doing so. And we have made it clear to all sides that the recruitment and use of child soldiers is wholly unacceptable and in contravention of their obligations under the Abuja Security Protocol of 8 November 2004, which commits both movements and the Government of Sudan to stop recruiting children as combatants.

Sudan and Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts at the UN Security Council on pressing the Government of Sudan to cease support for armed groups responsible for attacks on civilians in Chad.

Ian McCartney: We regularly discuss Sudan and Chad with our partners in the Security Council. We continue to press the Government of Sudan to adhere to the N'Djamena and Tripoli ceasefire agreements, which require the disarmament of, and cessation of support for, armed groups responsible for attacks on civilians in Chad. We support the deployment of a peacekeeping force to Chad to help protect civilians. On 17 January the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement requesting that the Secretary-General immediately deploy a further assessment mission to finalise recommendations for this force, and to deploy an advanced mission in the meantime.

Sudan and Chad

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if she will press her counterparts at the UN to provide funding for an office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Chad to monitor the border with Sudan;
	(2)  if she will press the UN Security Council to call for the immediate establishment of an office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Chad with a mandate to monitor and report publicly on human rights violations throughout the country, including in the context of conflict.

Ian McCartney: We support the inclusion of a human rights dimension in any integrated UN mission in Chad.
	We understand that the preference of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is to operate from within an integrated mission, given its wider approach to the situation, rather than in a stand-alone position. Therefore we are not lobbying the Security Council for the establishment of a stand-alone office, but we are pressing for a multi-dimensional presence in Chad.
	There is currently a human rights adviser in the UN country team in Chad, based in N'Djamena.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters to her Department sent from hon. Members during Session 2005-06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) over six months old.

David Lammy: Information regarding unanswered correspondence in session 2005-06 is shown in the table:
	
		
			  11 May 2005 to 8 November 2006 
			   MP  Peer 
			 1 month old 14 0 
			 2 month old 9 0 
			 3 month old 9 1 
			 4 month old 18 3 
			 6 month old 9 2 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members'/Peers' correspondence. The Report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 75-78WS.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the relationship between internet gambling and problem gambling.

Richard Caborn: I have not directly commissioned research that looks into the relationship between problem and internet gambling specifically. However, the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, a charitable organisation which commissions research into problem gambling, is currently funding a number of research projects that look into internet gambling, such as Oxford University's web-based survey of the clinical and psychological characteristics of internet gamblers. This study looks at the psychological characteristics of internet gamblers, the extent and range of their gambling activities, and examines clinical and psychological features that might be relevant to the development of problem gambling.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the  (a) availability and  (b) quality of problem gambling services targeted at (i) children, (ii) adolescents, (iii) women and (iv) ethnic minorities.

Richard Caborn: Any person who seeks help from the NHS for a gambling problem will be offered support and, if necessary, treatment to help them overcome their addiction, regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity. There are also a number of specialised addiction services outside the NHS, some of which are dedicated to the prevention of problem gambling and treatment of problem gamblers. The charity GamCare runs a 24-hour helpline and provides face-to-face counselling. Its services are open to all problem gamblers, and it makes special provision for women, such as female only group counselling.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effects of gambling on an individual's (i) health, (ii) family, (iii) workplace and (iv) financial situation.

Richard Caborn: Under the Gambling Act 2005, I commissioned the Gambling Commission to undertake a major UK gambling prevalence study. The last prevalence study was commissioned by GamCare in 1999. The current study is now under way and will report in September 2007. It will measure the prevalence of participation in all forms of gambling, estimate the prevalence of problem gambling and investigate the socio-demographic factors associated with gambling and with problem gambling. The Gambling Commission has undertaken to carry out a prevalence study every three years. They also work closely with a number of other organisations which carry out research into gambling and problem gambling. For example, last financial year (2005-06) the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT), commissioned research to the value of 163,796.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact on gambling addiction of the implementation of  (a) the Gambling Act 2005 and  (b) the Licensing Act 2003.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act 2005 puts the protection of vulnerable people at the heart of gambling regulation for the first time. There are a number of measures under the Act designed to help prevent problem gambling.
	For example, from September 2007, abiding by a social responsibility code of practice will be an explicit licence condition for all remote operators. Breaches will trigger penalties including unlimited fines or even loss of licence.
	These social responsibility measures include: age verification systems to prevent children from gambling; self-exclusion procedures; positive intervention to help problem gamblers; and conditions on the provision of credit by operators and the use of credit cards.
	No assessment has been made of any impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on gambling addiction.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will increase the financial contribution paid by gambling operators and service providers towards funding research into problem gambling, prevention and intervention programmes for people with a gambling addiction.

Richard Caborn: We have set the industry a target of raising 3 million each year for problem gambling treatment, education, public awareness and research, from when the Gambling Act 2005 is fully implemented in September 2007. I have reserve powers to impose and set the level of a statutory levy on gambling operators and I will consider using these powers if there is evidence that they are failing to meet their social responsibility duties under the Act.

Government Auctions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport where her Department publishes information about Government auctions which it arranges or to which it contributes in  (a) Blackpool,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the North West; and when the next such auction will take place in each area.

David Lammy: DCMS has not undertaken or arranged any such auctions in  (a) Blackpool  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the North West and has no plans to do so.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was allocated to the Heritage Lottery Fund from the National Lottery Distribution Fund in each of the last three years; and how much will be allocated in 2007-08.

Richard Caborn: The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) receives a one-sixth share of money arriving in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) from the Lottery operator. It also receives a share of investment earnings from the NLDF balance. HLF is not allocated a sum, rather it receives a share of what has accumulated.
	We do not know, therefore, what the value of the HLF's share will be in 2006-07 or 2007-08 because this will depend on variable factors, such as sales of Lottery products and returns on investments. The value of HLF's share of income in the last three years was 246 million in 2003-04, 266 million in 2004-05 and 270 million in 2005-06. My Department's current projections for the income of which HLF will receive a share is that it may fall by about 8 per cent. in 2006-07 and 2.5 per cent. in 2007-08.

Highland 2007

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department has taken to ensure that awareness of Highland 2007, the Year of Highland Culture, is raised throughout the United Kingdom.

David Lammy: Promotion of Highlands 2007 is the responsibility of the organisation itself, its partners and its many Scottish and British supporting agencies. DCMS does not directly promote such events but I am happy to take this opportunity to promote awareness of Highland 2007.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to promote actively the employment within  (a) her Department and  (b) public sector bodies for whom she has responsibility of people with mental illnesses in line with the advice and codes of practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission.

David Lammy: DCMS is accredited with and operates under the Two TicksPositive About Disabled People scheme, in which we guarantee to interview all job applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their capabilities.
	Our agency and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are responsible for ensuring that they comply with employment legislation and codes of practice and have adopted their own procedures accordingly. In line with the Equality Duty of the Disability Discrimination Act each of our NDPBs has developed its own Disability Equality Scheme. Furthermore we continue to work with them to share best practice and provide guidance across all the equality strands.

Sporting and Recreational Grounds

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place for liaison between her Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government to protect sporting and recreational grounds from being developed for housing.

Richard Caborn: My Department and Sport England liaise closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on the annual publication of statistics relating to the numbers of planning applications made in relation to playing field sites. These statistics will include where relevant planning applications relating to housing developments. In addition, we and Sport England are in regular contact with DCLG about planning issues and their impact on provision for sport.

Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what services provided by her Department and its related agencies translation services are provided.

David Lammy: Simultaneous interpretation facilities were provided in French, German and Polish for delegates at the DCMS International Summit on Remote Gambling on 31 October 2006.
	Translation services are used for reports and documents when necessary. The publications that have been translated in the last five years are listed as follows.
	 November 2002
	Leaflet on the National Lottery
	Translated into Hindi and Punjabi.
	 August 2005
	Leaflet on the Licensing Act 2003
	Translated into Turkish, Greek, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujerati, Urdu, Chinese, Arabic and Kurdish.
	Other services are provided by our related agencies this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Absent Teachers

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of recent changes in the way schools provide cover for absent teachers on  (a) supply teachers,  (b) school budgets and  (c) pupil performance.

Jim Knight: The National Agreement on Raising Standards and Tackling Workload, signed in January 2003, heralded a number of changes that have now been made to the way in which schools can use support staff in schools. For the first time, there are clearly laid out conditions under which support staff can be deployed to assist or support the work of teachers, for example by providing cover for teacher absence. Schools can either use support staff to provide cover supervision for pupils during teacher absence, or higher level teaching assistants to undertake specified teaching and learning activities. Whether or not schools choose to use support staff to cover teacher absence is entirely a matter for them, but those who do believe that it is a more effective way of maintaining learning than bringing in an unfamiliar supply teacher.
	Although the amount schools spent on supply teachers fell between 2002/03 and 2004/05, it rose in 2005/06. We are nevertheless aware that some supply teachers have reported a fall in the amount of work they have been offered. Any such falls can probably be attributed both to the impact of the school workforce remodelling changes and to the buoyant supply of primary teachers. Supply teachers retain a vital role. Cover supervision is appropriate only in certain circumstances, for example to cover for short-term absence, and schools will continue to use supply teachers for cover, especially for medium to long-term absence, and in primary schools wherein the vast majority of casesthey are expected to teach. In secondary schools supply teachers are typically used to supervise pupils.
	A recent Headspace survey of school leaders indicated that over half believed that standards of teaching and learning had improved as a result of workforce reform. Whilst it is for individual schools to make an assessment of the impact of their cover strategies on their budgets and on the performance of their pupils, we and the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group continue to monitor closely the impact of workforce reform, including the use of support staff for cover. We do this through a number of mechanisms, including a major research project looking at the deployment and characteristics of support staff and exploring the impact of support staff on teaching and learning, and monitoring activity by the Training and Development Agency for Schools.

Adoption

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were adopted in  (a) Aylesbury Vale and  (b) England in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of adoption orders made for all children by courts in England and Wales for 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 (latest figures available) was 5,360. A breakdown of this figure by region could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Statistical information on the total number of adoptions is included in the statistics series Marriage, divorce and adoptions; volume FM2, published by the Office of National Statistics. A copy of this publication is available in the House Library.

A-level Further Maths

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils took further maths A-level in Camden in 2005-06, broken down by school.

Jim Knight: 20 pupils sat an A level in further maths in Camden schools in 2005/06. These were in the following schools:
	
		
			  DfES number  School name  Further maths candidates  All GCE A level candidates 
			 2024285 Acland Burghley School 1 158 
			 2024611 The Camden School for Girls 4 206 
			 2024688 William Ellis School 6 90 
			 2025401 La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School 1 113 
			 2026018 University College School 6 117 
			 2026307 South Hampstead High School 2 82

A-level Results

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many pupils in maintained schools in England gained grade A at A-level in  (a) mathematics,  (b) physics,  (c) chemistry,  (d) biology and  (e) modern languages in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many pupils in maintained schools in England took A-levels in  (a) mathematics,  (b) physics,  (c) chemistry,  (d) biology and  (e) modern languages in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The figures requested are in the following tables and cover 16 to 18-year-olds in maintained schools only. FE colleges are not included in these figures.
	
		
			  Candidates aged 16 to 18 
			  Number 
			   Biology  Chemistry  Physics  Maths  Modern language 
			 1997 24,607 18,522 15,498 28,402 15,179 
			 1998 25,685 19,048 16,260 29,164 14,652 
			 1999 25,286 18,587 16,364 29,234 14,063 
			 2000 25,113 18,714 15,843 28,567 12,605 
			 2001 25,157 18,469 16,112 29,535 13,249 
			 2002 26,066 18,050 16,238 23,638 11,642 
			 2003 25,165 17,017 15,159 23,894 11,113 
			 2004 24,890 17,171 13,705 24,152 10,691 
			 2005 26,090 17,881 13,885 24,535 10,683 
			 2006 26,579 18,649 13,237 26,383 11,286 
		
	
	
		
			  Candidates aged 16 to 18 achieving an A grade 
			  Number 
			   Biology  Chemistry  Physics  Maths  Modern language 
			 1997 2,964 3,068 2,796 6,395 2,676 
			 1998 3,406 3,595 3,032 6,825 2,836 
			 1999 3,591 3,786 3,403 7,082 2,775 
			 2000 3,626 3,934 3,395 6,938 2,602 
			 2001 3,793 4,034 3,436 7,079 2,774 
			 2002 4,557 4,186 3,702 7,429 2,735 
			 2003 4,417 4,052 3,413 7,526 2,872 
			 2004 4,571 4,297 3,272 7,972 2,824 
			 2005 4,973 4,481 3,297 8,794 3,020 
			 2006 5,406 5,010 3,332 10,196 3,338

Black History Month

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost to the Department was of celebrating Black History Month.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department held an internal event for staff to celebrate Black History Month on 25 October 2006.
	The only cost was for refreshments and lunch which amounted to 375.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many new school buildings are scheduled to open in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008 under the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(2)  how much has been spent on fees to  (a) architects and  (b) other design consultants under the Building Schools for the Future programme to date;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) design and  (b) construction costs of the first school to open under the Building Schools for the Future programme;
	(4)  how many school contracts were signed under the Building Schools for the Future programme in 2006.

Jim Knight: To date, six local authorities have signed contracts for their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects. The first of these was Bristol in June 2006, which marked the establishment of the first Local Education Partnership (LEP), a long-term public private partnership which is the preferred model for delivering local BSF projects. Greenwich and Manchester signed contracts with their respective private sector partners in October and November 2006, followed by Lancashire, Bradford and Lambeth in December 2006. We expect several more contracts to be signed in the coming months.
	Five schools are scheduled to open in 2007 under the BSF programme. These include the first schools to be delivered through BSF in Bristol. A further 23 BSF schools are scheduled to open in 2008-09.
	Speedwell Technology College in Bristol will be the first school to open under the programme, in September 2007. It is one of four new schools in Bristol's BSF project and is being financed by PFI credit funding of approximately 36.8 million out of the 154.99 million PFI credits allocated for the whole project. The PFI contract is for 27 years and covers designing, building, financing and operating the schools. The Department is not a party to the contract and therefore we do not have a breakdown of design and construction costs.
	We do not hold details of how much has been spent on fees under BSF as this is a matter for individual local authorities. BSF funding includes an allowance for professional fees (including architects and other design consultants, as appropriate) of 12.5 per cent. of construction costs for new build projects and 15 per cent. of construction costs for refurbishment projects. It is for local authorities to manage all project costs, including fees, within the available funding.

Business Partnerships

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of schools in England are directly partnered with local companies.

Jim Knight: The Department does not routinely collect this information but we promote partnerships between schools and employers in many ways for example through sponsorship for academies, specialist schools, and in delivering a variety of school-business link activities such as work experience and professional development placement for teachers.

Class Sizes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of schools with class sizes at key stage four of more than  (a) 30,  (b) 40 and  (c) 50 pupils.

Jim Knight: The available information is shown in the following table.
	Information on key stage four classes is not collected centrally. National curriculum year group data have been used as the closest available indicator.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies( 1) : number of schools with year group 10 and 11 classes with more than 30 pupils( 2) , as at January 2006, England 
			   Classes with 31 to 40 pupils  Classes with 41 to 50 pupils  Classes with 51 or more pupils 
			   Number of:  Number of:  Number of: 
			   Schools  Classes  Pupils  Schools  Classes  Pupils  Schools  Classes  Pupils 
			  Classes taught by one teacher  
			 Maintained secondary 1,554 3,068 98,335 13 13 574 7 7 501 
			 City technology colleges 1 1 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Academies 5 5 160 1 1 42 0 0 0 
			   
			  Classes taught by two or more teachers  
			 Maintained secondary 52 62 2,077 31 37 1,665 47 56 5,254 
			 City technology colleges 0 0 0 1 1 47 0 0 0 
			 Academies 0 0 0 1 2 96 0 0 0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Classes taught during a single selected period on the day of the census.  Source: Schools Census

Class Sizes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned into the effect of class size on attainment since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills has commissioned the following research into the effect of class size on attainment since 1997:
	Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Brown, P., Martin, C., and Russell, A (2004) The effects of class size on attainment and classroom processes in English Primary Schools (Years 4 to 6) 2000-2003. DfES Research Series (RR605)
	Blatchford, P., Martin, C., Moriarty, V., Bassett, P. and Goldstein, H. (2002). Pupil adult ratio differences and educational progress over reception and key stage 1. DfES Research Series (RR335).
	Jenkins, A., Levacic, R. and Vignoles, A. (2005). Estimating the relationship between school resources and pupil attainment at Key Stage 3. DfES Research Report 679.
	Jenkins, A., Levacic, R. and Vignoles, A. (2006). Estimating the relationship between school resources and pupil attainment at GCSE. DfES Research Report 727.

Class Sizes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools regularly conduct lessons in  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) humanities in class sizes that exceed 60 pupils.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the table and relates to a sample of classes conducted on the day of the census in January.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Classes as taught( 2, 3,)  as at January 2006, England 
			  Classes with more than 60 pupils 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			  Class activity  Number of schools  Number of classes  Number of teachers  Number of pupils  Number of schools  Number of classes  Number of teachers  Number of pupils 
			 English, literacy or reading 1 1 1 80 2 2 15 275 
			 Mathematics or numeracy 0 0 0 0 3 3 18 440 
			 Humanities(4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2) Classes as taught during a single selected period on the day of the census in January.  (3) Includes classes with more than one teacher  (4 )Includes geography, history, economics and business studies   Source:  Schools Census. 
		
	
	The table identifies one class in a primary school with 80 pupils and one teacher. This was a nursery class in which there were two members of support staff.
	No classes of 61 or more pupils were reported in city technology colleges or academies in January 2006.

Connexions Cards

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many awarded Connexions Card points remain unspent.

Parmjit Dhanda: The total number of unspent Connexions Card points, accumulated by past and present card holders from the start of the scheme in September 2001 up to 12 January 2007, was 1,420,990,957.

Connexions Cards

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people have spent reward points on their Connexions Cards; and how many points they spent in total.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of young people that have spent Connexions Card points, up to 12 January 2007, was 145,947. The number of Connexions Card points that have been spent in total, as at 12 January 2007, was 183,432,525.

Departmental Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of expenditure by his Department in each of the Government office regions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The estimate of DfES expenditure by Government office region is published annually in the Departmental Report. The latest available figures are given in Annex G to the Departmental Report 2006 published as Cm 6812 and dated May 2006.

Departmental Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much programme expenditure sponsored by his Department was spent via each of the Government offices for the regions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: Expenditure on programmes by the Department for Education and Skills which took place through Government offices for the regions in FY 2005-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  DfES programme expenditure, FY 2005-06 
			  Government office region   
			 North-east 31,727,938.43 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 54,925,071.03 
			 North-west 78,270,470.38 
			 West midlands 58,320,110.59 
			 East midlands 34,195,574.80 
			 Eastern England 45,377,862.09 
			 South-west 44,952,029.60 
			 London 87,676,003.29 
			 South-east 73,720,234.23 
			 Total 509,165,294.44

Departmental Finance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value of  (a) private finance initiative credits allocated to his Department and  (b) related capital expenditure was in each year for which figures are available, broken down by project.

Jim Knight: We maintain central records of private finance initiative credits at the point when contracts are signed and commitments entered into. We do not maintain records of related capital expenditure incurred by each project. The following table shows, for each project, the financial year in which contracts were signed, and the commitment entered into in terms of PFI credits. There are an additional number of Building Schools for the Future projects, financed by PFI, which are at a pre-contract stage.
	
		
			  Local authority name  Project name  Year   million 
			 Dorset DorsetThe Sir John Colfox County Secondary School 1997 15.6 
			 Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon HullVictoria Dock Primary School 1997 3.9 
			 Lewisham LewishamCatering PFI Project 1997 4.3 
			 Birmingham Birmingham 1Ten Schools 1998 50.6 
			 Dudley Dudley 1Grid for Learning 1998 29.5 
			 Enfield EnfieldHighlands Secondary School 1998 15.9 
			 Hillingdon HillingdonBarnhill Community High School 1998 18.4 
			 Manchester Manchester 1Temple School PFI Project 1998 3.7 
			 Portsmouth PortsmouthMiltoncross Secondary School 1998 12.4 
			 Staffordshire StaffordshireTwo Schools 1998 13.8 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire East Riding of YorkshireBridlington Schools PFI 1999 26.0 
			 East Sussex East SussexPeacehaven Schools PFI Scheme 1999 19.0 
			 Haringey HaringeyGrouped Secondary Schools 1999 62.5 
			 Lambeth LambethLilian Baylis School and Resource Centre 1999 20.4 
			 Lancashire LancashireFleetwood High School 1999 13.4 
			 Leeds LeedsCardinal Heenan High School 1999 4.1 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Schools Phase 1 1999 58.8 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Stoke on TrentSchools Grouped Pilot Scheme 1999 93.0 
			 Torbay TorbayWestlands and Homelands Schools 1999 14.4 
			 Tower Hamlets Tower HamletsGrouped Schools 1999 89.2 
			 Tower Hamlets Tower HamletsMulberry School 1999 17.4 
			 Walsall WalsallSt. Thomas More VA School 1999 8.2 
			 Waltham Forest Waltham ForestThe Lammas Community School 1999 18.5 
			 Brent BrentJFS School 2000 9.0 
			 Cornwall Cornwall 1 2000 60.7 
			 Essex Essex 1Debden Park High School (Loughton) 2000 11.1 
			 Kent KentSwanscombe Schools 2000 11.6 
			 Kirklees Kirklees 1Twenty Schools 2000 59.2 
			 Leeds Leeds 17 Schools 2000 45.2 
			 Liverpool LiverpoolSpeke/Garston Lifelong Learning Centre 2000 10.8 
			 Liverpool LiverpoolGrouped Schools Project 2000 76.0 
			 North Yorkshire North YorkshireGrouped scheme of 4 schools 2000 7.2 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire 1East Leake Schools 2000 17.2 
			 Sandwell SandwellFive Schools PFI Project 2000 17.0 
			 Tameside TamesideHattersley Schools 2000 20.9 
			 Wiltshire WiltshireNorth Wiltshire Schools 2000 38.8 
			 Wirral WirralNine School Project 2000 58.5 
			 Bedfordshire Mid-Bedfordshire Schools Upper Schools Project 2001 24.2 
			 Bolton BoltonCastle Hill School 2001 3.2 
			 Brighton and Hove Brighton and Hovefour schools 2001 24.8 
			 Calderdale CalderdaleGrouped Schools Project 2001 53.9 
			 Cheshire CheshireEllesmere Port and Neston Schools 2001 16.1 
			 Derbyshire Derbyshire 1Grouped Schools PFI Project 2001 29.0 
			 Dudley Dudley 2Paragon Project 2001 22.0 
			 Lincolnshire LincolnshireSeven Schools Project 2001 14.1 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle 1Six Schools 2001 47.1 
			 Newham NewhamNew Schools Project 2001 30.0 
			 Redbridge RedbridgeOaks Park School 2001 20.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames Richmond upon ThamesPrimary Schools 2001 16.8 
			 Salford Salford 1-Special Schools Project 2001 16.2 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Schools Phase 2 2001 31.6 
			 Southampton SouthamptonThree Secondary Schools 2001 42.6 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Stockton on TeesCommunity Campus at Ingleby Barwick 2001 6.4 
			 Sunderland SunderlandSandhill View School 2001 12.0 
			 Barking and Dagenham Barking and DagenhamTwo Schools 2002 35.0 
			 Bexley BexleyThree Schools 2002 35.1 
			 Camden CamdenHaverstock School 2002 20.9 
			 Coventry CoventryCaludon Castle School 2002 24.3 
			 Croydon CroydonAshburton School 2002 17.1 
			 Ealing Ealing 1Ealing Schools Project 2002 33.1 
			 Essex Essex 3Clacton-on-Sea Education Project 2002 30.3 
			 Kirklees Kirklees 2Special Schools Reorganisation 2002 25.2 
			 Leeds Leeds 2Ten Primary Schools 2002 32.0 
			 Lewisham LewishamGrouped Schools Modernisation (PFI) Project 2002 60.6 
			 Merton MertonAge of Transfer 2002 56.6 
			 North Tyneside North TynesideFour Schools Project 2002 33.5 
			 Northamptonshire Northamptonshire 1Wooldale Centre for Learning 2002 23.7 
			 Rotherham RotherhamGrouped Schools 2002 71.4 
			 South Tyneside South TynesideBoldon High School 2002 15.8 
			 Waltham Forest Waltham Forest 2Grouped Schools Project 2002 53.6 
			 West Sussex West SussexCrawley schools scheme 2002 53.2 
			 York YorkFour schools 2002 15.4 
			 Barnsley BarnsleyThirteen Schools 2003 54.0 
			 Birmingham Birmingham 2Twelve Schools 2003 57.0 
			 Bristol BristolGrouped Schools Project (Phase 1A) 2003 57.3 
			 Cornwall Cornwall 2Truro schools 2003 71.0 
			 Darlington DarlingtonFive Schools Project 2003 34.9 
			 Derby DerbyGrouped Schools 2003 43.8 
			 Derbyshire Derbyshire 2Long Eaton and Newbold Replacement Schools Project 2003 38.2 
			 Devon DevonSix Schools Project 2003 79.0 
			 Enfield EnfieldJoint Schools Project 2003 38.8 
			 Harrow HarrowSpecial Schools PFI 2003 19.5 
			 Herefordshire HerefordshireWhitecross High School 2003 19.5 
			 Leeds Leeds 3 and 4Secondary and Post 16 PFI Project 2003 117.5 
			 Manchester Manchester 2Wright Robinson Sports College 2003 35.0 
			 Newham NewhamJoint Schools Project 2003 29.1 
			 Northamptonshire Northamptonshire 2Northampton Review 2003 115.9 
			 Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire 2Bassetlaw Phases 1 and 2 2003 131.6 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Redcar and ClevelandGrouped Schools 2003 48.9 
			 Sheffield Sheffield Schools Phase 3 2003 55.0 
			 Swindon SwindonNorth Swindon Schools PFI 2003 62.8 
			 Telford and Wrekin Telford and WrekinHadley Learning Community Incorporating Jigsaw 2003 59.8 
			 Ealing Ealing 2Three schools 2004 61.8 
			 Kent KentSix schools (including Hugh Christie Technology College) 2004 80.8 
			 Norfolk Norfolk 2Norwich Area Grouped Schools PFI Project 2004 61.4 
			 Oldham OldhamGrouped Schools 2004 58.4 
			 Peterborough PeterboroughSecondary Schools Scheme 2004 63.4 
			 Rochdale RochdaleAiming High 2004 57.5 
			 Salford Salford 2High Schools PFI Project 2004 50.2 
			 Slough SloughThree schools 2004 48.1 
			 Worcestershire WorcestershireBromsgrove Schools 2004 63.3 
			 Gateshead GatesheadGroup of Schools 2005 64.2 
			 Bradford Building Schools For the Futurewave 1 2006 111.9 
			 Bristol Building Schools For the Futurewave 1 2006 155.0 
			 Lancashire Building Schools For the Futurewave 1 2006 244.0

Direct Instruction Teaching

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has funded into the Direct Instruction method of teaching since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department has not funded any research into the Direct Instruction method of teaching since 1997.

Drugs

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many incidents involving the  (a) sale and  (b) use of illegal drugs on school property have been reported in each local education authority in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this information.

Education Funding: Ashford

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much central Government allocated for education in Ashford local authority areas in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 January 2007
	The following figures are taken from the new dedicated school grant, which was introduced in April 2006. The Ashford constituency falls within the local education authority area of Kent and the information supplied is the level of funding which applies to all of Kent:
	
		
			  Kent 2006-07 
			million 
			 Dedicated Schools Grant 718.2 
			 Revenue Grant allocation 174.5 
			 Total 892.7 
			  Notes: 1. These figures are in cash terms. 2. The figures include the pensions transfer.

Educational Psychologist Assessments

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in  (a) East Sussex and  (b) England were assessed by an educational psychologist in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: These figures are not collected at a national level. Jenny Clench, Principal Educational Psychologist, at East Sussex county council has been contacted and will write to the hon. Gentleman at his Eastbourne address within the next two weeks giving any figures which they have available on this issue.

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by each of his Department's executive agencies in each Government office region in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills does not have responsibility for any executive agencies therefore we have no expenditure through executive agencies to Government office regions.

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which of the executive agencies of his Department have regional offices outside London.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills does not have responsibility for any executive agencies therefore we have no offices related to executive agencies outside of London.

Foundation Schools

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have  (a) expressed an interest in,  (b) made an application for and  (c) been granted foundation status in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 January 2007
	The category of foundation school was established by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. There was a moratorium on changes of category following the introduction of the new schools framework, and no proposals were published until 2001. Schools wishing to change category do not have to submit an expression of interest to the Department, and proposals to change category are decided locally. The following table indicates how many schools have published proposals to change category to foundation, and how many were approved:
	
		
			   Number of proposals published  Number of proposals approved  Awaiting decision 
			 2001 16 15  
			 2002 12 11  
			 2003 6 6  
			 2004 4 3  
			 2005 11 11  
			 2006 39 37 2

Foundation Schools

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many foundation schools were in operation in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 January 2007
	The following table details the numbers of primary and secondary foundation schools each year since 1999:
	
		
			   Primary  Secondary  Total 
			 1999 359 500 859 
			 2000 359 500 859 
			 2001 357 497 854 
			 2002 362 501 863 
			 2003 365 510 875 
			 2004 364 514 878 
			 2005 366 513 879 
			 2006 363 530 893 
		
	
	The 1999 figures reflect the position at 1 September 1999 following the introduction of the new schools framework, and subsequent figures have been derived from Annual Schools Census returns made by schools to the Department in January each year.

GCSEs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in England gained five A*-C grades at GCSE, excluding equivalents and Applied GCSE Double Awards, in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the percentage of 15-year-old pupils who achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE only, excluding equivalents(1 )and Applied GCSE Double Awards.
	(1) These other qualifications are not the same as GCSEs. Not all approved qualifications are exactly the same, but they can be measured and accredited on a common scale, which gives point scores according to their different challenges and different breadth. The value of a qualification will depend entirely on the young person's needs and aspirations and the context for their learning.
	
		
			   5+ A*-C at GCSE only 
			 2002 50.1 
			 2003 49.9 
			 2004 50.2 
			 2005 51.2 
			 2006 51.7

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of hours per week of the timetable schools are recommended to allocate to the new GCSE science and GCSE additional science in  (a) Year 10 and  (b) Year 11.

Jim Knight: There is no statutory number or proportion of hours per week of the timetable that schools should dedicate to teaching GCSEs. At Key Stage 4, school timetables are determined by the individual school's curriculum and qualifications offer and the requirements of the examining bodies' specifications. Guidance from examining bodies suggests that around 10 per cent. of the timetable should be spent on studies leading to each of the new science GCSE and the additional science GCSE in both Years 10 and 11.

Head Teachers

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in England are advertising for a head teacher.

Jim Knight: In January 2006 there were 130 advertised vacancies for nursery and primary school head teachers and 30 for secondary school head teachers. This is the latest information available. An estimate for January 2007 will be available in April.
	These numbers are advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments of at least one term's duration including those being filled on a temporary basis of less than one term.
	Education Data Surveys Ltd. recently reported that during calendar year 2006, around 2,700 advertisements were placed for head teachers in England and Wales.

International Baccalaureate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in London have taken up the International Baccalaureate in each of the last five years, broken down by borough.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies( 1) : number of schools with at least one pupil studying the International Baccalaureate( 2) , position in January each year: 2002-06 
			  By local authority area 
			Number of schools with at least one pupil studying the International Baccalaureate 
			2002  2003  2004 
			Secondary  CTC  Academy  Secondary  CTC  Academy  Secondary  CTC  Academy 
			  England 9 0 n/a 18 1 0 21 1 1 
			
			 202 Camden 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 203 Greenwich 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 209 Lewisham 0 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 302 Barnet 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 303 Bexley 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 1 
			 308 Enfield 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 312 Hillingdon 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 317 Redbridge 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 319 Sutton 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 330 Birmingham 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 331 Coventry 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 334 Solihull 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 n/a 
			 335 Walsall 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 
			 336 Wolverhampton 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 341 Liverpool 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 343 Sefton 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 352 Manchester 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 
			 358 Trafford 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 372 Rotherham 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 380 Bradford 0 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			 381 Calderdale 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 384 Wakefield 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 394 Sunderland 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 820 Bedfordshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 830 Derbyshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 840 Durham 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 3 n/a n/a 
			 855 Leicestershire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 871 Slough 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 872 Wokingham 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 874 Peterborough 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 875 Cheshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 878 Devon 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 881 Essex 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 886 Kent 1 0 n/a 2 0 n/a 3 0 n/a 
			 887 Medway 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 916 Gloucestershire 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 925 Lincolnshire 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 926 Norfolk 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 928 Northamptonshire 0 0 n/a 1 0 n/a 1 0 n/a 
			 936 Surrey 2 n/a n/a 2 n/a n/a 3 n/a n/a 
			 937 Warwickshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  By local authority area 
			Number of schools with at least one pupil studying the International Baccalaureate 
			2005  2006 
			Secondary  CTC  Academy  Secondary  CTC  Academy 
			  England 34 1 1 33 1 1 
			 
			 202 Camden 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 203 Greenwich 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a 0 
			 209 Lewisham 1 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 302 Barnet 0 n/a 0 1 n/a 0 
			 303 Bexley 1 n/a 1 1 n/a 1 
			 308 Enfield 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 312 Hillingdon 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 0 
			 317 Redbridge 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 319 Sutton 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 330 Birmingham 3 n/a n/a 2 n/a n/a 
			 331 Coventry 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 334 Solihull 0 1 n/a 10 1 n/a 
			 335 Walsall 1 n/a 0 0 n/a 0 
			 336 Wolverhampton 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 341 Liverpool 2 n/a n/a 1 n/a 0 
			 343 Sefton 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 352 Manchester 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 0 
			 358 Trafford 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 372 Rotherham 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 380 Bradford 1 0 n/a 1 n/a 0 
			 381 Calderdale 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 384 Wakefield 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 394 Sunderland 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 820 Bedfordshire 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 830 Derbyshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 840 Durham 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 855 Leicestershire 2 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 871 Slough 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 872 Wokingham 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 874 Peterborough 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 875 Cheshire 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 878 Devon 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 881 Essex 1 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 886 Kent 4 0 n/a 6 0 0 
			 887 Medway 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 916 Gloucestershire 0 n/a n/a 1 n/a n/a 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2 n/a n/a 2 n/a n/a 
			 925 Lincolnshire 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 926 Norfolk 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 928 Northamptonshire 1 0 0 1 0 0 
			 936 Surrey 2 n/a n/a 2 n/a n/a 
			 937 Warwickshire 1 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not applicable, no schools of this type. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Course of study is collected from those pupils in national curriculum year groups 12 and above.  Source: Schools' Census

Investors in People

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual budget is of Investors in People; and how many people are employed there.

Phil Hope: Investors in People UK (IiPUK) receives grant in aid from Department for Education and Skills. For 2006-07 the budget is 5.5 million.
	The number of people currently employed by IiPUK, including 12 people on short-term contracts, is 52.

Investors in People

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether Investors in People UK has been awarded the Investors in People award.

Phil Hope: Investors in People UK were first awarded the IIP Standard on 10 February 1997 and has continued to be recognised with reviews every three years since this date. The date of their last review was 30 May 2006.

National Skills Academies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the national skills academies which have been established.

Phil Hope: Employer-led national skills academies (NSAs) are a key element of the Government's skills policy. The plan is to establish an initial network of 12 NSAs by 2008, extending this as resources allow, to provide an NSA for every major sector of the economy.
	Two selection rounds have been held so far, one in 2005 and one in 2006. The selection is undertaken against rigorous criteria by an employer-led panel. In the first round, four potential NSAsin manufacturing, construction, financial services, and food and drink processingwere selected and invited to develop detailed business plans. The first three of these have now been approved as national skills academies. It is hoped that the fourth, food and drink processing, will be approved shortly.
	In the second round, a further four potential academies were selected and are currently in the process of developing business plans. These are in the areas of hospitality, creative and cultural skills, chemicals processing and nuclear.
	These are all in addition to the fashion retail academy which was the pathfinder for the NSA programme. This was launched in March 2005 and opened to students in September 2005.
	A prospectus inviting proposals for a third selection round was made available on 15 January.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; what the function is of each body; and what the annual budget of each body was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills publishes a list of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) it sponsors and their function in Annex M of the Departmental Report. The latest copy was published under Command paper Cm 6811 to 6838 in May 2006.
	In addition to those bodies listed in Annex M, the Department has recently set up two other Executive NDPBs: the Office of the Children's Commissioner, with the function of promoting the interests of and acting as the voice of all children and young people in England, the Quality Improvement Agency, which is to provide a national focus for quality improvement in the learning and skills sector, enabling providers to improve performance, respond to strategic change and build capacity for self improvement.
	The annual budgets for the grant in aid funding for the Executive NDPBs for FY2005-06, the last year for which figures are available is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Name of NDPB  Grant in aid budget for 2005-06 () 
			  Executive NDPBs  
			 Adult Learning Inspectorate 26,100,000 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency 12,500,000 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service 101,000,000 
			 Construction Industry Training Board Funded by a levy raised on the industry 
			 Engineering Construction Industry Training Board Funded by a levy raised on the industry 
			 Higher Education Funding Council for England 6,625,000,000 
			 Investors In People UK 5,700,000 
			 Learning and Skills Council 10,516,900,000 
			 National College for School Leadership 93,600,000 
			 Office for Fair Access 400,000 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner 3,000,000 in set up phase 
			 Partnership for Schools 3,500,000 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority 151,000,000 
			 Quality Improvement Agency Not set up until FY 2006-07 
			 School Food Trust 0 in set up phase 
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 67,400,000 
			 Student Loan Company 58,800,000 
			 Training and Development Agency for Schools 634,200,000 
		
	
	The Department is also responsible for the following Advisory NDPBs which do not receive funding from DfES:
	School Teachers' Review Body which reports to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on the statutory pay and conditions of school teachers in England and Wales;
	Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy which provides advice to the Government and monitors the overall success of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, to reduce teenage pregnancy and increase the participation of teenage parents in education, training and work, and
	Teachers' TV which provides advice on the content of programming to be broadcast on the Teachers TV channel.

Partnerships for Schools

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget of Partnerships for Schools is in 2006-07; how many consultants it employed in 2006; and how many people it employs.

Jim Knight: The annual budget for Partnerships for Schools (PfS) for 2006-07 is 12.985 million. Under the joint venture agreement which established PfS these costs are met equally by the Department for Education and Skills and Partnerships UK. PfS has 81 budgeted full-time staff supported by two consultants.

Pupils: Intimidation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the physical assaults in London schools in the last year for which figures are available resulted in  (a) injury,  (b) a criminal case and  (c) damages paid by the school to the victim.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.
	The Department does collect information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools due to physical assault against a pupil or an adult. The latest available data are given in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2) : Number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by reason of exclusion( 3 ) 2004/05 
			   London  England 
			   Number of permanent exclusions( 3,4)  Number of fixed period exclusions  Number of permanent exclusions( 3,4)  Number of fixed period exclusions 
			 Physical assault against a pupil 290 11,010 1,780 80,700 
			 Physical assault against an adult 160 2,490 1,270 18,480 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against a pupil 80 2,070 450 15,550 
			 Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against an adult 100 7,730 1,100 89,570 
			 Bullying 30 1,180 130 7,680 
			 Racist abuse 0 470 40 3,390 
			 Sexual misconduct 40 530 150 3,490 
			 Drug and alcohol related 70 780 470 11,100 
			 Damage 30 1,350 210 11,950 
			 Theft 40 1,240 230 7,520 
			 Persistent disruptive behaviour 400 8,290 2,890 103,650 
			 Other 210 5,710 690 36,460 
			 Total 1,510 42,850 9,400 389,560 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes non-maintained special schools. (3) The distribution of exclusions by reason has been derived from Termly Exclusions Survey returns and applied to the number of permanent exclusions as confirmed by local authorities as part of the Schools' Census data checking exercise. (4) There were some 60 exclusions in Waltham Forest and City of London local authorities for which reason for exclusion has not been established.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and Schools Census

Random Drug Tests

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will introduce random and compulsory drug tests for all school children over 11 years of age.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has no plans to introduce random and compulsory drug tests for all school children over 11 years of age. The Department's guidance, Drugs: Guidance for Schools (DfES 2004), makes it clear that drug testing is one option available to schools, but that it is for the head teacher to judge whether such an approach is appropriate. We know of three maintained schools that have tested pupils for drugs.

Random Drug Tests

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the results were of random drug testing in schools for each year since 2004, broken down by borough and classification of drugs found;
	(2)  what proportion of high schools in London practised random drug testing in each year since 2004, broken down by borough.

Parmjit Dhanda: Schools do not have to inform the Department if they wish to introduce drug testing for pupils and we do not collect information about those that do, the methods used or the results of their tests. However, we know of three maintained schools which have tested pupils for drugs.

Reading Recovery Scheme

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  when he expects reading recovery to be rolled out to the city of Nottingham following the Chancellor's recent funding announcement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the 10  (a) constituencies and  (b) cities in which a reading recovery scheme would have the most effect.

Jim Knight: The pre-Budget report announced that the Every Child a Reader (ECAR) programme will be rolled out nationally. Work is now underway to develop the ECAR model so that it is fully compatible with the recommendations of Jim Rose's review of the teaching of early reading, and explore the most cost-effective approaches so that a greater number of children can benefit from support. Decisions about the delivery of the national roll-out have yet to be taken.
	In targeting the existing pilot programme, authorities invited to take part were prioritised by reference to criteria including those with the highest numbers of children below level 3 at the end of key stage 2. In expanding the programme, we will look again at our methodology and work out the best ways to reach children with significant literacy difficulties who will benefit most from intensive literacy support.

School Mergers

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new rules for competitive tendering for new schools on the incentive for local education authorities to consider merging existing schools.

Jim Knight: School place planning is the statutory responsibility of the local authority.
	The amalgamation of schools can be affected in different ways and it is for the local authority to determine the most appropriate process taking into account local circumstances. It would then be for the local authority and others as appropriate to publish statutory proposals, which will be decided locally, for any changes to the provision of maintained schools in the area. Where an amalgamation was to be brought about by the closure of two schools and the establishment of a new school in their place, the local authority would need to hold a competition for a new school.
	Local authorities and others may apply for the Secretary of State's consent to publish proposals for a new school without a competition in exceptional circumstances. Such applications are considered on their individual merits.

School Places

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school places were take up by children from EU-8 accession countries in each local education authority in the school year starting in September 2006.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not held centrally. As part of the Schools' census (SC) collected in January each year, schools are required to record ethnicity data to reflect the main categories used in the 2001 national population census. Children from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are recorded under the ethnic category Any Other White Background.
	Following a consultation exercise in 2002, local authorities (LAs) were given the option of using extended ethnicity categories in their schools if they felt that the main ones did not meet their local management needs. However, the extended ethnicity categories do not include separate codes relating to the eight European Union accession countries. They are all included within the White Eastern European code.
	Not all LAs have chosen to use the extended categories. The majority of authorities use a mixture of main and extended codes and as a consequence the Department does not hold complete data for the extended ethnic background categories.

School Sport

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment is made by Ofsted during its regular inspections of state secondary schools on the provision of sport.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 January 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked what assessment is made by Ofsted, during its regular inspections of state secondary schools, on the provision of sport.
	Individual subjects are not inspected during Ofsted's programme of three-yearly school inspections. There is therefore no specific focus on physical education and school sport. It does, however, feature in several aspects of the inspection and the report: what provision the school has made to promote pupils' knowledge and understanding of fitness and health; whether statutory requirements of the National Curriculum are met; opportunities for extra curricular sporting activity and the development and accreditation of leadership skills through sport.
	The amount of evidence on physical education and school sport will vary according to the priorities and focus of the inspection. For example, schools with specialist sports college status will have their distinctive aims and characteristics taken into account.
	Ofsted's complementary subject survey programme looks in detail at physical education and school sport in a sample of schools across the country. A number of different areas are reported on, including: standards and achievement; teaching and learning; the curriculum; subject leadership and management; and inclusion. The outcomes of these inspections are reported on a three yearly cycle. Additionally, as part of the subject programme, Ofsted continues to inspect the impact of the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links national strategy.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Internet Access

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) urban and  (b) rural (i) secondary and (ii) primary schools have access to broadband-enabled internet.

Jim Knight: Over 99 per cent. of all schools in England have access to the internet and, as at the end of December 2006, (i) 3,394 secondary schools and (ii) 17,344 primary schools have access to broadband. The Department does not hold information on the percentage of schools in deprived areas with access to broadband, or regularly collect such information for rural schools.

Schools Absence Strategy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is of the schools absence strategy; and what assessment he has made of its effectiveness.

Jim Knight: The Department is planning to spend 1.3 million during 2006-07 on regional advisers working within the national strategies to provide specific support to local authorities and targeted schools on their attendance strategies.
	In addition, we are also committing approximately 14 million to local authority behaviour and attendance consultants via the secondary national strategy standards fund grant which is targeted at supporting schools to implement effective strategies to improve behaviour and attendance. It is not possible to say precisely how much of this will be spent directly on attendance.
	We have measured the effectiveness of our advisers and consultants through the analysis of absence data for 2005-06. This showed that, of the 370 secondary schools targeted for high absence in 2005-06, 52 schools met their absence targets for 2007-08. The 198 secondary schools targeted for persistent truancy reduced by 27 per cent. their number of persistent truants compared to their 2004-05 baseline.

Science Teaching

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for individual science GCSEs in  (a) biology,  (b) chemistry and  (c) physics in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number and percentage of 15 year-old pupils(1) attempting a GCSE in biology, chemistry and physics in maintained schools(2) in England.
	(1) Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August).
	(2 )Includes community schools, voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools, city technology colleges, academies, community special schools, foundation special schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.
	
		
			  GCSE attempts of 15 year old pupils( 1)  in maintained schools by subject 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   Biology  Chemistry  Physics  Biology  Chemistry  Physics 
			 1997 19,116 18,682 18,546 3.7 3.7 3.6 
			 1998 20,856 20,499 20,390 4.1 4.1 4.0 
			 1999 22,131 21,717 21,608 3.9 3.8 3.8 
			 2000 23,229 22,386 22,399 4.1 4.0 4.0 
			 2001 24,038 23,218 23,102 4.2 4.0 4.0 
			 2002 24,664 23,849 23,759 4.4 4.2 4.2 
			 2003 27,728 26,730 26,228 4.8 4.6 4.5 
			 2004 29,727 28,623 28,333 5.0 4.8 4.7 
			 2005 32,718 31,135 30,850 5.5 5.3 5.2 
			 2006 36,101 34,427 34,159 6.0 5.7 5.7 
			 (1) Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August).

Secondary Schools North Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on secondary school reorganisation in North Copeland.

Jim Knight: School place planning is the responsibility of the local authority. It will be for the local authority to publish statutory proposals, which will be decided locally, for any changes to the provision of maintained schools in the area.

Special Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to his special advisers concerning alterations to their duties during the campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.

Parmjit Dhanda: Special advisers act in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. This makes clear that special advisers may assist with a leadership or deputy leadership campaign, but it must be in their own time. In addition, the Cabinet Secretary has issued guidance to Departments on conduct in the run-up to such elections. A copy has been placed in the Library for the reference of Members.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children with a special educational need were referred to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in the last two years.

Vera Baird: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table gives the number of appeals against East Sussex local authority in the last two school years, and the number of children with special educational needs in the local authority's primary and secondary schools in the January of the relevant period.
	Appeals concern children residing in the local authority, rather than pupils at the local authority's schools. It would therefore be misleading to express one figure as a proportion of the other.
	Eastbourne is not a local education authority and we do not collate appeals data at the more local level.
	
		
			   Special educational needs appeals  Children with special educational needs 
			 2005/06 81 12,567 
			 2004/05 68 11,980

Teacher Exchanges

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher exchanges with developing countries have been arranged in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills does not keep central information about teacher exchanges. These can be arranged through a number of organisations, including Government, non-government, local authorities and schools.
	However, as an example, under the DfES Teachers International Professional Development Programme (TIPD), in the year April 2005 to March 2006, teachers from England went on 596 study visits to developing countries.

Teachers' Pay

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether any exemptions or exceptions to teachers' pay and conditions as set out in the school teachers' pay and conditions document apply in non-maintained special schools.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 January 2006
	Non-maintained special schools are not statutorily covered by the school teachers' pay and conditions document. Non-maintained special schools have discretion to 'mirror' all or parts of the document if they wish. Any contractual arrangements that they enter into with their teachers can be amended by them, subject to due process.

Teachers' TV

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is of Teachers' TV for 2006-07; how many consultants it employed in 2006; what its role is; and how many people it employs.

Jim Knight: Teachers' TV aims to help raise standards in classrooms by helping to share good practice, support continuing professional development, offer classroom resources, and provide education news and information. The channel's target audience includes teachers, school leaders, teaching assistants and school governors.
	For the financial year 2006-07 the Department's budget for Teachers' TV is 19,142,800.
	In 2006 Teachers' TV employed 58 full-time and part-time staff. In addition, two individual consultants were used on specialist projects during the year. They provided a total of 35 days' input to the channel.

Trespassing: Schools

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many cases of trespassing were reported by schools in  (a) England and  (b) each local education authority in the last five years for which figures are available; how many resulted in schools calling the police; and how many involved (i) verbal and (ii) physical abuse of  (A) teachers and  (B) pupils;
	(2)  how many incidents of vandalism on and in schools in England were reported in each of the last 10 years; and how many resulted in a prosecution;
	(3)  how many offensive weapons were confiscated in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in each of the years between 2000 and 2006.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 January 2007
	DfES does not collect information on cases of trespassing, vandalism and confiscation of offensive weapons in schools. To do so would place unnecessary burdens on schools.
	Schools are generally safe places for pupils and staff, and we have helped school managers to act against rare but serious incidents in order to maintain that level of safety. On trespass, we have advised schools on how they can ban nuisance intruders from the school site and then prosecute if banned intruders persist in causing a nuisance. Schools are right to take strong action against any verbal or physical abuse of staff or pupils. On vandalism, we have advised schools on how to secure their site and advised schools and local police to liaise closely in order to act strongly against any crimes of vandalism. On weapons, we have announced that schools can screen pupils without suspicion, and will soon be able to do hands-on searches with suspicion; on these we plan to issue guidance in the spring.

Visually Impaired Pupils

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many books have been made available for visually impaired pupils in  (a) Braille,  (b) audio and  (c) large print format in each local education authority in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to increase the availability of school books which have been specially adapted for use by visually impaired pupils; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not collect information on the numbers of books available to visually impaired pupils in each local authority.
	The Government are committed to providing a good education for all learners, to help them fulfil their potential. Under Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act schools, colleges and universities have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled pupils and students are not put at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to those who are not disabled.
	Schools, colleges and universities make their own decisions as to how best to meet this duty in respect of individual learners. Support for visually impaired learners will therefore range from the provision of written materials in alternative formats, to the provision of specialist equipment and services, to alterations to the physical environment.
	The Department does provide funding to the RNIB for production of embossed literature for visually impaired people.

Wood Industry

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is being provided by  (a) the Learning and Skills Council,  (b) the London Development Agency and  (c) the sector skills councils to ensure that the wood industry attracts the skilled new entrants it needs to meet levels of demand in London and the South East; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The LSC funds and supports the delivery of a wide range of qualifications in wood occupations in London and the South East e.g. wood machining, the use of chainsaws, fencing, tree work; forestry and arboriculture as well as basic literacy and numeracy skills for new entrants. The LSC is also working with stakeholders such as learning provider organisations to promote the wood industry to young people in the 14 to 19-year-old age group.
	The London Development Agency, Lantra (the Sector Skills Council for the land based industries) and the LSC are working together to commission research into training provision covering the wood industries to inform supply and demand for the sector. The London Development Agency is also funding a range of projects at Capel Manor College including a specialism in arboriculture.
	There are a number of sector skills councils (SSCs) with an interest in the wood industry that are taking forward skills partnership initiatives in London and the South East. Among the main ones, Lantra and ConstructionSkills are working with the LSC, employers, learning providers and other partners to develop and deliver Sector Skills Agreements which include identifying and addressing skill shortages and gaps in the wood industry and assessing whether provision meets identified skill needs. Lantra and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) are working together to raise levels of management and business skills associated with the wood industry. Another of Lantra's initiatives is a joint project with the Forestry Commission on skills issues relating to sustainable green woods. In addition, the Sector Skills Development Agency is funding two projects with UK Woodchain, which represents the wood processing industry, to improve the industry's use of occupational standards in skills provision and establish better links with SSCs.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badges

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1052, on blue badges, what estimate has been made of the number of children aged up to two years who would be affected by the change in eligibility criteria for disabled blue badges; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: During the review of the scheme it was estimated that there would be approximately 12,000 children under the age of two who would be eligible for a badge following the proposed change.

Cycling

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with cycling campaign groups on the draft highway code and on the use of cycling facilities.

Stephen Ladyman: Cyclists and cycling groups have been fully consulted on the proposed revisions to the code and many of them have taken the opportunity to comment.
	In addition, I met my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry), chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling on 7 September 2006, to discuss cyclists' views on the proposed revisions to the highway code. This has been the only Ministerial meeting, on the revision of the code, with any road user group.
	We are now considering all the comments received on the revision to the highway code and the new edition will be published in mid 2007.

EU Directive: Driving Licences

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances motorists will be required to re-take their driving tests under the EU directive on driving licences; and when the directive will be implemented in the UK.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 19 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1433-34W.

Heysham M6 Link

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether all the rejected options to the preferred Heysham M6 Link (northern route) have been documented in the major scheme business case; and if he will list them.

Stephen Ladyman: Lancashire county council's major scheme business case (MSEC) for the Heysham to M6 Link, submitted in July 2005, provides details of the western route (as the next best option) and online improvements to the existing highway network (as the lower cost option) as well as background information on the highways options that were considered between 1997 and 2004: the western (green) route, the western (blue) route and the northern (orange) route.
	The MSBC also refers to a study carried out for Lancashire county council in 1993 which considered and compared light rail transit, guided light transit, guided busways, quality bus and bus priority measures. The study also appraised a scheme between Galgate and Heysham harbour via Lancaster university, Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham and compared the financial and economic assessments of the different options.

Light Pollution

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance has been produced for  (a) local authorities and  (b) the Highways Agency on tackling light pollution from street lighting.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government published Lighting in the Countryside: Towards Good Practice in 1997. This provides advice to all highway authorities and is also applicable in urban areas. The Institute of Lighting Engineers has also published advice.

Motorway Service Stations

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many service stations there are on the motorway network.

Stephen Ladyman: There are currently 68 motorway service areas in England. Planning Permission to develop a motorway service areas has been granted to a further three sites. These are at Cobham (M25 J9- 10), Burtley Wood (M40 J2) and Saltwood (M20, J11).

Parton-Lillyhall Bypass

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will begin on the A595 Parton-Lillyhall bypass.

Stephen Ladyman: Work is scheduled to start on the A595 Parton to Lillyhall bypass in late January 2007.

Rail Fares

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons fares for rail journeys in north Kent from zone four to zone three are the same as those from zone four to zone two; and for what reasons those fares are different from  (a) those published in his press release of 19 October 2006 and  (b) those listed for rail journeys only on the National Rail Enquiries website.

Tom Harris: The fares in question are not different, they should be exactly the same as those in the Department's press release. An error made by Southeastern in implementing these fares is now being corrected.

Rail Services

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials are employed by his Department on project teams to investigate and design proposals to provide extra capacity on the rail network.

Tom Harris: Within the Department's Rail Division, all Directorates have individual responsibilities for the investigation and design of proposals which increase rail capacity. A team of 21 posts, supported by the railway industry, is directly involved to promote and co-ordinate such work as well as ensuring delivery of major rail projects in accordance with Government's requirements.

Rail Services

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by Network Rail to investigate and design proposals to expand capacity on the rail network.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Gentleman should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Registration Plates

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances vehicles may drive on public roads with  (a) registration plates hidden and  (b) no registration plates.

Stephen Ladyman: Motor traders using vehicles under a trade licence must cover the original registration plates with the trade plates. Invalid carriages that do not exceed 254 kgs, pedestrian controlled vehicles that do not exceed 450 kgs, vehicles being driven in order to be registered and vehicles travelling to a pre-arranged test to facilitate registration are not required to display registration plates.

Road Safety

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal road crashes involving drivers aged  (a) 17 to 20 and  (b) 21 to 25 years occurred in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many (i) drivers, (ii) passengers and (iii) others lost their lives.

Stephen Ladyman: Information requested is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Accidents involving drivers/riders aged 17 to 20 and resulting casualties in personal injury road accidents reported to the police, Great Britain, 2001 to 2005 
			  Number 
			   Fatal accidents  Drive/rider fatalities( 1)  Passenger fatalities( 1)  Pedestrian fatalities( 1) 
			 2001 488 301 171 76 
			 2002 493 322 180 70 
			 2003 523 347 195 61 
			 2004 510 328 198 60 
			 2005 542 336 195 88 
		
	
	
		
			  Accidents involving drivers/riders aged 21 to 25 and resulting casualties in personal injury road accidents reported to the police, Great Britain, 2001 to 2005 
			  Number 
			   Fatal accidents  Drive/rider fatalities( 1)  Passenger fatalities( 1)  Pedestrian fatalities( 1) 
			 2001 605 403 170 117 
			 2002 572 385 146 102 
			 2003 593 402 149 101 
			 2004 648 431 172 110 
			 2005 559 392 148 93 
			 (1) Includes casualties of all ages.  Note: There is a small amount of double counting between these tables in instances involving drivers/riders of the same age groups.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether penalty charge notices for failure to renew vehicle tax discs have been sent out only in certain postcodes or regions.

Stephen Ladyman: The issue of penalty charge notices is a fully automatic process and they are issued to all registered keepers of vehicles who are liable to prosecution for failing to licence or SORN their vehicles. It is not technically possible to issue these notices to specific postcodes or regions.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many penalty charge notices have been automatically issued for failure to have an up-to-date vehicle tax disc to recipients in each  (a) constituency and  (b) county in England and Wales since November 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is available only at disproportionate cost.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Armed Forces Personnel

Alex Salmond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquests remain to be heard in relation to members of the armed forces who lost their lives as a result of military duties in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan (i) since 2003 in total, (ii) in 2004, (iii) in 2005 and (iv) in 2006; and in how many cases an inquest has not been concluded a year after death.

Harriet Harman: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Iraq and Afghanistan: outstanding inquests 
			   Iraq  Afghanistan 
			 Deaths in 2003 11 0 
			 Deaths in 2004 2 0 
			 Deaths in 2005 4 0 
			 Subtotalthe total number of inquests outstanding one year after death 17 0 
			 Deaths in 2006 27 36 
			 Deaths in 2007 2 2 
			 Totalinquests outstanding of deaths since 2003 46 38

Criminal Procedure Rules

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the criminal procedure rules will be amended to take account of the ruling regarding ECHR Article 8 in the case of R. (TB)  v. Stafford combined court (2006) 2 CAR 505.

Harriet Harman: EWHC 2081 Admin. They take account also of other responses to the Rule Committee's consultation on new rules, to which the court referred in the Stafford Court case.

Designated Drugs Courts

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to extend the operation of designated drugs courts.

Harriet Harman: Dedicated drug courts are being piloted at Leeds and West London magistrates courts and an independent evaluation of the pilots will be complete by summer 2007. This will determine if this drug court model delivers benefits and will inform the potential for extended operation.

Judicial Pension Schemes

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total liability is of judicial pension schemes.

Harriet Harman: As at 31 March 2006, the value of the liabilities of the Judicial Pensions Scheme was estimated by the Government Actuary's Department at 1,352 million.

Legal Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received on legal aid provision in cases before the Magistrates Courts; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Since 2 October 2006, the issue of legal aid provision for defendants appearing before the magistrates courts has been raised in 17 pieces of correspondence addressed to my Department.

Legal Aid

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Carter review on the provision of legal aid.

Vera Baird: Legal Aid Reform: the Way Ahead, published on 28 November 2006, sets out the Government's proposals to reform legal aid. The reform programme flows from Lord Carter of Coles' Review of Legal Aid Procurement, with a number of adjustments to take account of points raised during the subsequent public consultation on Lord Carter's final report and the Joint DCA/LSC Consultation paper Legal Aid: a Sustainable Future. A Regulatory Impact Assessment covering the proposals in The Way Ahead was published on 18 December 2006. Copies are available on the LSC and DCA websites and in the House of Commons Library.

Magistrates Courts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost per hour of running the magistrates courts system in England.

Harriet Harman: Based on standard full cost pricing methodologies for 2005-06 the cost to HMCS of an hour in a magistrates court in England and Wales was 415.
	The cumulative cost for running the magistrates courts system in England and Wales was 527,880 per hour.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations her Department has received from mental health lawyers on the reform of legal aid.

Vera Baird: I held national meetings last summer to hear the views of practitioners, including mental health lawyers, on our proposals, and attended the Mental Health Lawyers Association conference on 3 November 2006 to hear the views of mental health specialists. We also received 95 responses to our consultation Legal Aid: a sustainable future on mental health, and these are summarised in Legal Aid: a sustainable futurean analysis of responses. In response to representations received, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is reviewing the mental health scheme and will be publishing details of the final scheme in due course.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of proposed legal aid reforms on lawyers specialising in mental health law; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Legal Services Commission published a draft impact assessment alongside our joint consultation, Legal Aid: a sustainable future, in July 2006. A full impact assessment looking at the impact of the fee schemes on all specialist legal aid providers is being carried out as the schemes are finalised. The full impact assessment will be published alongside details of the schemes.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Health on the effect of legal aid reforms on lawyers specialising in mental health law.

Vera Baird: Both my Department and the Legal Services Commission have had discussions with the Department of Health on the ramifications of new mental health legislation, and the new fee schemes, to ensure that assessment of the impact of both mental health remuneration and wider legal aid reform takes into account potential changes in the law.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Board of Inter-trade Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the perceived religious background is of each member of the Board of Inter-trade Ireland.

David Hanson: Information on the community background of the InterTradeIreland Board is not held.

Care Home Costs

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average weekly cost of caring for a resident in  (a) public sector and  (b) publicly-funded private sector residential care in Northern Ireland was in the last period for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The average weekly cost of caring for a resident in public sector 'statutory' residential care in Northern Ireland and the average weekly cost of caring for a resident in publicly-funded independent residential care in Northern Ireland for the financial year 2004-05 was as follows:
	
		
			  2004-05 
			  Client group  Mean average weekly cost () 
			 Statutory 730 
			 Independent 379 
		
	
	These unit costs take no account of the client group to which residents belong or of individual case complexity.

Departmental Assets

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 10 most valuable  (a) movable and  (b) immovable assets owned by his Department.

Peter Hain: The following information refers to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) only. It does not include information for its agencies, NDPBs or the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.
	The NIO's 10 most valuable assets are:
	 (a) Movable
	CCTV system
	Security Platform hardware
	Milestone hardware
	Tandberg 8000 (video conferencing equipment)
	Traveller unit and server laptop
	Tissue Tek processor
	Holland tractor
	Internet publishing web server
	Analogue multi channel CCTV
	Air conditioning unit
	 (b) Immovable
	Hillsborough Castle
	Police Retraining and Rehabilitation Trust accommodation and land
	Eight other NIO properties (details not provided for security reasons).

Departmental Staff

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) marketing officers,  (b) communications officers and  (c) press officers are employed in his Department; and what the total expenditure on communications for his Department was on (i) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (ii) other (A) press officers, (B) special advisers and (C) staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Categories of staff  Number 
			 Press/Communication Officer 14 
			 Marketing Officer 0 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) employs 14 press officers in its communications division, the Northern Ireland Information Service. This includes all staff from the director of the communications to information officers.
	There are no marketing officers employed within the NIO.
	The NIO does not yet have complete figures for external communication spend for 2006-07, so, as recommended by the Cabinet Office guidance, expenditure figures for the last full financial year 2005-06 have been provided.
	 External Communications 2005-06
	The NIO does not hold the information in the format requested. It is not possible to break down expenditure by types of communication staff. Listed in the following table is the Department's expenditure on external communications for 2005-06.
	
		
			  2005-06  Total amount () 
			 Consultancymarketing 4,359 
			 Advertising/Publicity 121,124 
			 Advertising Campaigns 44,223 
			 Website costs 14,000 
			 Design and print of publications 232,959.69 
			 Overall Total 416,665.69

Down Lisburn Trust

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time is to obtain an appointment for an interview and assessment with a clinical psychologist in the Down Lisburn Trust; what the reasons are for delays in obtaining appointments; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There are different waiting times for different specialties. Average waiting times are:
	Learning Disability6 months
	Brain Injury4 months
	Older Adults6 months
	Paediatrics5 months
	Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services12 months
	Specialist assessment clinic for autism15 months
	Adult rehabilitation2 weeks
	Adult mental health primary careLisburn sector 6 months/Down sector 12 months
	Adult mental health secondary careLisburn sector 15 months/Down sector 23 months.
	Waiting times for routine referrals can lengthen, dependent upon the volume of urgent referrals received. Urgent cases across all specialties can be seen much quicker; in the case of in-patients, routine waiting time is one week, and for out-patients waiting time is four months.
	The main reason for delay is an increasing awareness of the benefits of psychological/talking therapies and a corresponding increase in demand.
	There has been a steady increase in the number of clinical psychologists working in the HPSS, from 98 in March 2001 to 150 at March 2006an increase of 53 per cent.
	Locally, training places funded by the Department, have increased from an intake of six in 1997 to the current intake of 11.

Down Lisburn Trust

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many clinical psychologists are employed by  (a) Down Lisburn Trust and  (b) other health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is presented in the table.
	
		
			  Clinical psychologists employed within the NI HPSS by trust as at 31 December 2006 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 1) 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 25 23.02 
			
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 3 3.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 12 11.28 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 13 11.61 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 12 10.87 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 3 2.62 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 25 22.57 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 4 4.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 12 11.11 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 21 19.71 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 19 18.65 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 4 4.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 8 6.62 
			 Total 161 149.06 
			 (1 )Whole-time equivalent.   Note:  As at 31 December 2006, there was a total of 25 (23.02 WTE) qualified psychologists employed in Down Lisburn HSS Trust. This figure had increased from 22 (19.86 WTE) in September 2006.   Source:  Human Resource Management Systems.

External Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which external consultants were used by  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies in relation to private finance initiatives in 2005-06; and what the nature and cost of the work was in each case.

Peter Hain: No external consultants were used by the Northern Ireland Office or its agencies in relation to private finance initiatives in 2005-06.

Further and Higher Education

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 60 years enrolled in  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time (i) vocational and (ii) non-vocational courses in each college of further and higher education in Northern Ireland in academic year 2005-06.

Maria Eagle: The following table details the number of people over the age of 60 years enrolled in  (a) vocational and  (b) non-vocational courses in each college of further and higher education in Northern Ireland in academic year 2005-06. There are no full-time enrolments by students aged over 60 years old, therefore the figures below relate to part time provision.
	
		
			  College  Vocational students  Non-vocational students  Total 
			 Armagh College 128 351 479 
			 Belfast Institute 1,203 2,893 4,096 
			 Castlereagh College 293 1,021 1,314 
			 Causeway Institute 337 723 1,060 
			 East Antrim Institute 154 984 1,138 
			 East Down Institute 157 625 782 
			 East Tyrone Institute 79 1,433 1,512 
			 Fermanagh College 150 349 499 
			 Limavady College 72 328 400 
			 Lisburn Institute 96 105 201 
			 Newry and Kilkeel Institute 139 626 765 
			 North Down and Ards Institute 830 378 1,208 
			 North East Institute 170 372 542 
			 North West Institute 487 710 1,197 
			 Omagh College 129 313 442 
			 Upper Bann Institute 365 1,302 1,667 
			 Total 4,789 12,513 17,302 
			  Note: Age is at 1 July 2005.  Source: Further Education Statistical Record

Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cars run by his Department were manufactured  (a) in the UK and  (b) abroad.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office has eight vehicles in Northern Ireland, of which four were manufactured in the UK and four abroad.
	In London my Department has the use of six cars which are operated by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Information on these cars is available on page 14 of the agency's Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House for the reference of Members.

Physiotherapists

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the number of junior physiotherapy posts in hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual trusts, taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. Nevertheless, I am aware of concerns about potential limited opportunities for junior level physiotherapists and I have established a taskforce to examine and report on the current situation. Further action will be influenced by the findings of the taskforce.

Private Finance Schemes

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the  (a) total capital value,  (b) period over which repayments will take place and  (c) total cost of repayment is of each private finance scheme which has reached financial close and for which a Northern Ireland department or agency is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Details of PFI projects of Northern Ireland departments and agencies 
			  Project title  Estimated capital value ( million)  Payment period, e.g. 2005-30  Total estimated unitary charge over repayment period ( million) 
			  Department of Finance and Personnel
			 LANDWEB (NI Land Registry service) (2) 1999-2014 78.1 
			 
			  Department for Regional Development
			 Kinnegar WwTW (wastewater treatment) for East Belfast/Holywood 12 1999-2024 55 
			 Alpha Project WTWs, provision of approximately 50 per cent. of the potable water supply for Northern Ireland 110 2008-32 507 
			 DBFO roads package 1 (M1 westlink, Antrim hospital slip roads, M2 widening and Sandyknowles to Greencastle) 118 2006-37 499 
			 
			  Department for Employment and Learning
			 Belfast Institute, Millfield 20.0 2002-27 83.0 
			 North West InstituteNorthland Building 10.0 2001-26 41.0 
			 Omagh College 16.0 2006-36 123.0 
			 East Tyrone College, Dungannon 16.0 2006-36 79.0 
			 DEL CIS (IT Project) (2) 1998-2008 45.0 
			  Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
			 Royal Group of Hospitals managed equipment services 98.0 2006-21 127.0 
			 Belfast City Hospital Trustnew renal dialysis facilities 3.3 1998-99 to 2012-13 23.4 
			 Belfast City Hospitalcancer centre (equipment, consumables and maintenance) 42.2 2005-06 to 2030-31 121.9 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Trustcontract energy services 0.5 1997-98 to 2007-08 7.7 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trustnew renal dialysis facilities 2.7 2000-01 to 2013-14 13.9 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trustcontract energy services 0.2 1994-95 to 1998-99 1.3 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital HSS Trustservices centre (new pathology, pharmacy and changing rooms) 15.2 2006-07 to 2030-31 55.1 
			 
			  Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
			 Electronic libraries for Northern Ireland ElfNI 10.2 2002-12 36.5 
			 Lisburn City Library 3.7 2005-30 11.4 
			 
			  Department of Education
			 ICT in Schools, Classroom 2000small primaries (2) 2001-02 to 2007-08 29.0 
			 ICT in Schools, Classroom 2000medium/large primaries (2) 2002-03 to 2007-08 36.5 
			 ICT in Schools, Classroom 2000post-primary and special (2) 2002-03 to 2010-11 116.0 
			 ICT in Schools, Classroom 2000wide area network (2) 2003-04 to 2010-11 120.2 
			 ICT in Schools, Classroom 2000refresh of the primary service (2) 2006-07 to 2010-11 38.0 
			 Drumglass High School 6.5 2000-01 to 2025-26 30.4 
			 St Genevieve's High School 11.5 2001-02 to 2026-27 73.6 
			 Wellington College, Balmoral High 17.0 2001-02 to 2026-27 25.4 
			 Bangor Academy/Nendrum College 31.7 2008-09 to 2038-39 135.0 
			 Holy Cross College 31.0 2008-09 to 2032-33 120.4 
			 
			  Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
			 Provision of new Invest NI HQ building with serviced accommodation 25.0 2005-2030 127.8 
			 
			  Department of the Environment
			 DVTAreplacement of vehicle test equipment and related services 24.0 2000-18 57.0 
			 
			  Department for Social Development
			 SSA strategic partnership contract with EDS 26.5 2002-11 46.9 
			 (1) The Unitary Charge is a composite payment covering repayment of capital, maintenance and the provision of services (e.g. facilities management, cleaning, grounds maintenance) by the contractor as agreed under the PFI contract. Actual unitary charges paid depend on the performance of the contractor in delivering the terms of the contract, and typically include elements that are index linked. (2) ICT (Information and Communication Technology) projects focus on service delivery and may not generate significant fixed assets with appreciable useful life after the contract expires. No capital value figures are quoted in such cases.

Translink

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms were of the financial settlement paid to the former chief executive of Translink following his resignation from that body in December 2006; how much he received; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: This information will be published in the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company's Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2007. It is intended that this will be laid before Parliament prior to the summer recess.

Winter Fuel Payments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland he estimates were eligible for winter fuel payments in 2006.

David Hanson: The number of people in Northern Ireland eligible for winter fuel payments in 2006 is estimated to be 320,370.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Assistive Technology Industry

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will appoint a representative from the assistive technology industry to the expert panel supporting the independent living review.

Anne McGuire: There are no plans to appoint a representative from the assistive technology industry to the Independent Living Review Expert Panel. Members of the Expert Panel have been appointed in their capacity as individuals for the experience they bring to the group, rather than as representatives of a particular organisation.
	However, members include a broad range of experts in the field of independent living, including disabled people, people from organisations of disabled people, user-led groups and service delivery organisations. This includes people with an interest in assistive technology and people who use assistive technology. We have also commissioned research that brings together evidence about why investing in adaptations, equipment and assistive technology makes sound economic sense.
	Assistive technology is an important issue for the Independent Living Review. In considering how to enable people to have choice and control over the support needed to go about their daily lives, the review is looking at the role that assistive technology should play in this.

Benefit Payments: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of  (a) housing benefit,  (b) disability living allowance and  (c) council tax benefit in the Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997; and how much was claimed in total of each benefit.

Anne McGuire: Information regarding housing benefit and council tax benefit is not available below local authority level. The available information for disability living allowance is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Claims for disability living allowance in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency 
			  As at May each year:  Number in receipt 
			 1997 2,500 
			 1998 2,800 
			 1999 2,900 
			 2000 3,100 
			 2001 3,400 
			 2002 3,180 
			 2003 3,380 
			 2004 3,590 
			 2005 3,760 
			 2006 3,950 
			  Notes: 1. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 2. Case load figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied.  Sources: 1. May 1997-May 2001: DWP, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample. 2. May 2002-May 2006: DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	
		
			  Total expenditure on disability living allowance in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency 
			  Financial years  Expenditure ( million) 
			 1997-98 6.4 
			 1998-99 7.0 
			 1999-2000 7.4 
			 2000-01 8.1 
			 2001-02 9.3 
			 2002-03 9.0 
			 2003-04 9.8 
			 2004-05 10.7 
			 2005-06 11.7 
			  Note: Figures are consistent with pre-Budget report 2006 and are rounded to the nearest million  Source: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, DWP accounts and forecasts for 2006-07

Benefit Recipients

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are claiming  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) incapacity benefit,  (c) disability living allowance,  (d) lone parent benefit and (e) income-related out-of-work benefit.

Anne McGuire: There is no single income-related out-of-work benefit. Various income-related benefits can be claimed by people who are out of work. There is also not a specific lone parent benefit. In general lone parents claiming benefit claim income support.
	The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of benefit claimants at May 2006 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 930,860 
			 Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance 2,730,000 
			 Disability living allowance 2,799,000 
			 Lone parents in receipt of income support 774,860 
			  Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit includes incapacity benefit contribution-only cases. 2. Lone parents in receipt of income support does not include lone parents who receive incapacity benefits or who are required to be available for work.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS

Carers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what strategies he and his Department have devised to ensure that there are  (a) appropriate sources of support,  (b) flexible care options and  (c) flexible working arrangements for carers returning to work.

Anne McGuire: Carers already have access to a wide range of support to help them back to work depending on whether they are, for example a lone parent or a disabled person, and the type of working age benefit they receive, such as income support or incapacity benefit.
	In taking advantage of this support, carers may be able to attend a work-focused interview where they can get advice from a personal adviser on the programmes available to help them search for work or on training to update their skills. When making the transition into work, the personal adviser will also give advice on the financial assistance available to them.
	We have also listened to the concerns of carers in drawing up proposals in the Health and Social Care White Paper when a commitment was made to improve respite care. In addition, the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004, which came into effect on 1 April 2005, promotes cooperation between authorities and requires councils to inform carers of their right to an assessment which takes into account their outside interests including work, or the desire to work.
	Flexible working practices are good for business, employees and their families. In April 2003, we introduced a new right for parents of children up to the age of six and disabled children up to the age of 18 to request flexible working and put a duty on the employer to consider their request seriously. From April 2007, this right will be extended through the Work and Families Act to carers of adults. This will support carers who wish to remain in or return to work and will particularly help those aged 45 to 64, around one quarter of whom are carers.

Carers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the case for information packs being provided to new carers on their rights and entitlements; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department already provides a wide range of information about benefits for carers which can be obtained through Jobcentre Plus offices, Pensions centres, advice agencies, libraries, doctors' surgeries, helplines and from the Directgov website. Both the claim pack and the award notifications for carer's allowance contain general advice for carers. In addition many local authorities produce material to advise carers about the financial and practical support that may be available to them, which can include details of local services available to carers. Finally, the Department of Health has announced plans to establish a carers helpline, as part of its 'new deal' for carers. Accordingly, we believe that carers should be free to choose how they obtain the information about financial support and services which they need.

Carer's Allowance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to increase the level of carer's allowance in line with that of  (a) jobseekers' allowance,  (b) income support and  (c) incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 15 January 2007
	The level of carer's allowance is increased in April each year in line with the annual movement in prices as measured by the retail price index, and we have no plans to change these arrangements.
	Unlike incapacity benefit and jobseeker's allowance (contributions-based), entitlement to carer's allowance does not depend upon the payment of national insurance contributions; hence, the level of carer's allowance has always been less than other income maintenance (contributions-based) benefits such as incapacity benefit and jobseeker's allowance.
	Income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance are available to carers in lower-income households. They are not payable at standard rates, but are assessed on the basis of an individual's personal circumstances. Carers entitled to carer's allowance have the carer premium of 26.35 a week included in the assessment of these benefits, and of housing benefit and council tax benefit. If they are aged 60 or over, they have the equivalent additional amount for carers included in their pension credit assessment.

Child Support Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North dated 28 November 2006, on a constituent, reference PCU161195; if he will ensure that a reply is sent; and what the reasons are for the delay in replaying substantively.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 22 January 2007:
	In your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North dated 28th November 2006 on a constituent reference PCU161195; if he will ensure a reply is sent; and what the reasons are for the delay in replying substantively.
	As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.

Council Tax Benefit

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners live in the Bristol local authority area; how many are in receipt of council tax benefit; and what percentage this represents of the total number of pensioners living in the constituency.

James Purnell: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Council tax benefit (CTB) recipients by age: Bristol local authority, May 2006 
			   Number/Percentage 
			 CTB recipients aged 60 and over(1) 17,170 
			 Population aged 60 and over 72,200 
			 Percentage of population aged 60 and over(1) in receipt of CTB 23.8 
			 (1) 'Aged 60 and over' is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over. Therefore figures will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. CTB caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10 and percentage to one decimal place. 3. Population figure is rounded to the nearest hundred. 4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases. 5. CTB figures are not available at parliamentary constituency level.  Sources: 1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 2006. 2. Mid-2005 ONS population estimates.

Disability Disclosure

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage disclosure of disability by public sector employees; and what the cost of such steps was in 2005-06.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions encourages its staff to declare their disability status. In its disability equality scheme published on 1 December 2006 the Department committed to improve further the information that it collects on disability status.
	The Department is in the process of rolling out a new resource management system that will allow it to capture such information more effectively. To coincide with the rollout, a targeted programme of communications will encourage further staff to disclose their disability status. This will complement the existing information on disability disclosure that is already available to all staff on the Department's internal website. Costs have been, and will continue to be, absorbed within normal departmental communications spending.
	Externally, the Department aims to develop and share good practice on disability issues, including disability monitoring, as part of its membership of organisations such as the Employer's Forum on Disability.

Disability Living Allowance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many applications for disability living allowance were received in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006; and what percentage of applications was approved;
	(2)  many applications for disability living allowance were received in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006 on grounds of mental health; and what percentage of applications was approved.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is that in the 12 months ending on 31 May 2005, 432,670(1) initial claims to disability living allowance were decided, of which 201,100(1) (46.5 per cent.) resulted in an award of the benefit. In 23.5 per cent.(2) of the claims which resulted in an award of the benefit, the main disabling condition was recorded as mental health. For the 12 months ending on 31 May 2006, the corresponding figures were 422,030(1) claims decided, of which 197,850(1) (46.9 per cent.) resulted in an award of the benefit. In 23.2 per cent.(2) of the claims which resulted in an award of the benefit, the main disabling condition was recorded as mental health.
	(1) Source: DWP 100 per cent Management Information Data. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	(2) Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	 Notes:
	Figures do not include first awards made as a result of reviews or appeals, since decisions following reviews or appeals occur considerably later than the initial decision.

Fire and Health and Safety Repairs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Health and Safety Executive's targets for tackling backlogs of fire and health and safety repairs were in each year since 2001-02; what the performance against those targets was in each year; what the target and performance are for 2006-07; what the target is for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09; and how many (i) deaths and (ii) injuries there have been as a result of backlogs of fire and health and safety repairs in each year since 2001-02.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have targets for tackling backlogs of fire and health and safety repairs. HSE's targets relate to reductions in the incidence of injury, the incidence of ill health, the incidence of working days lost and the numbers of recorded major hazard precursor incidents.
	HSE's general fire safety remit is limited to certain nuclear and construction sites and ship repair and ship building premises. HSE does not collect statistics on deaths and injuries resulting from backlogs of fire and health and safety repairs.

Gershon Review

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what office space in his Department has been disposed of as part of the Gershon Review.

Anne McGuire: Since the publication of the Gershon Study in July 2004, the Department for Work and Pensions has vacated and disposed of 493 properties totalling 350,000 sq m.

HSE Communications

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost was of the Health and Safety Executive enforcement communications strategy referred to on page 103 of his 2006 departmental annual report.

Anne McGuire: The cost associated with development and implementation of HSE's enforcement communications strategy to date is a full economic cost of ca. 50,000 for the communications manager undertaking the work. There is anticipated to be a further cost of ca. 50,000 until implementation is completed in December 2007.

Job Vacancies

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were notified to the job centre in the West Chelmsford constituency in November 2006.

Jim Murphy: 1,760 job vacancies were notified to Jobcentre Plus in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency in November 2006:
	 Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Jobcentre Plus boundaries do not match directly to parliamentary constituency boundaries. Therefore, figures quoted are aggregate totals for vacancies notified in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System.

Jobcentre Plus

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of levels of performance of Jobcentre Plus offices in  (a) Wellingborough and  (b) Rushden.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 22 January 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what recent assessment he has made of levels of performance of Jobcentre Plus offices in  (a) Wellingborough and  (b) Rushden. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The latest year to date information, from 1 April 2007, for Wellingborough and Rushden Jobcentres is in the Annex. These Jobcentre Plus sites are part of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire District. Performance against the Job Outcome Target and the Employer Outcome Target is recorded at district level, not for individual offices.
	The Annex also shows performance information for the Benefit Delivery Centre (BDC) in Wellingborough where the benefit processing work for Wellingborough and Rushden is carried out. This BDC is performing well, with clearance time for all benefits being achieved within the national targets.
	I hope that this is helpful.
	
		
			  Performance against national targets for Wellingborough and Rushden Jobcentres 
			  JOTJob Outcome Target 
			   Percentage 
			 District Performance against Target 84.6 
			 District Performance Target 100 
		
	
	
		
			  Employer Outcome Target 
			   Percentage 
			 District Performance against Target 85.4 
			 District Performance Target 86 
		
	
	
		
			  Customer Service 
			  Percentage 
			   Target  Performance 
			 Rushden 84 89.7 
			 Wellingborough 84 77.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Wellingborough Benefit Delivery Centre 
			  Percentage 
			  Benefit Delivery (Accuracy)  Target  Performance 
			 Income support 89.7 (1)96.59 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 93.7 100 
			 Incapacity benefit 95 96.55 
			 (1 )Interim result. 
		
	
	
		
			  Actual Average Clearance Time 
			  Days 
			   Target  Performance 
			 Income support 11 9.2 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 12 11.7 
			 Incapacity benefit 18 16.1

Offshore Industry

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department plans to take to facilitate easier training updates for British workers in the offshore industry in respect of health and safety and job competency during periods when workers are unemployed.

Anne McGuire: Employers are responsible for ensuring that workers are trained and competent in health and safety. The offshore industry works closely with the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) which has the role of identifying current and future skills needs and ensuring that education and training arrangements are in place to meet them. OPITO also, on behalf of the offshore oil and gas industry, ensures the quality and content of key safety and emergency training.
	Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for Chemicals, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymers has devolved its responsibility for delivery on oil and gas issues to OPITO. Cogent continues to liaise with Government and the appropriate stakeholders regarding UK policy and government education and skills provision.
	Various initiatives are in place aimed at addressing skills shortages in the industry:
	the new Accelerate programme introduced by OPITO aims to tackle skills shortages in the Oil and Gas industry. One of its programmes is Accelerate Transfer, which aims to manage the entry of skilled technicians from different backgrounds into the industry and so address one of the major Skills shortages reported by the industry. It provides tailored training and development to close any gaps in technical competence while also sharing the industry's safety culture.
	the Technician Training scheme (Modern Apprenticeship) programme is currently working to address the skills requirements for Engineering, in Electrical, Mechanical, Process and Instrumentation. 100 new entrants were recently taken on.
	the Workforce Capacity and capability group, on behalf of the Industry Leadership Team, is currently undertaking some work to look at the longer term supply and demand workforce issues which will result in further work specifically aimed at addressing skills shortages.
	the Oilandgas4u website run by OPITO opens up the oil and gas industry to people from different backgrounds, locations, aspirations and previous experience.

Parliamentary Questions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many written parliamentary questions to his Department in the 2005-06 session were answered with a reply that it had not been possible to reply before prorogation, or similar wording.

Anne McGuire: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 2006W.

Poverty and Social Exclusion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to strengthen support in workplaces for individuals who, despite being in employment, suffer poverty and social exclusion; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Work is, and continues to be, the most sustainable way out of poverty. Through the introduction of the national minimum wage and working tax credits, we have made sure that work pays. Those in employment face much lower poverty risks than those who are not. People who move from welfare to work benefit beyond the financial returns; they are less likely to experience social exclusion, and have the opportunity to develop social networks and to benefit from workplace-based training.
	While those in work are at much lower risk of being poor than the workless, we recognise that because of a combination of low pay and households not able to work sufficient hours, work is not enough to lift all families out of poverty. Key to raising rates of pay is developing the skill base of the workforce, particularly those in low skilled work.
	Train to Gain, the Government's new National Employer Training Programme, offers employers access to free flexibly delivered training for their low skilled employees to help them achieve their first full level 2 qualification; the equivalent of five GCSEs. This provides individuals with the platform they need to progress to higher level skills where the rewards are greater.
	Early results are promising with over 50,000 low skilled employees in learning of whom over 4,000 have already achieved their qualification.
	The Government are considering their response to Lord Leitch's recommendation to expand Train to Gain as part of our efforts to address the UK's long-term skills needs, particularly for those at the greatest risk of poverty.

Royal Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent using Royal Mail in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The amount spent by the Department on Royal Mail postal services in each year from April 2001 to the end of December 2006 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Category/spend  Post  Post opening  Total 
			 2001-02 68.214 n/a 68.214 
			 2002-03 69.55 n/a 69.55 
			 2003-04 64.366 2.709 67.075 
			 2004-05 66.941 3.224 70.165 
			 2005-06 56.411 2.793 59.204 
			 2006-07 (to 31 December 2006) 39.637 2.639 42.276

Trade Union Funding

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding his Department has given to individual trade unions in the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions seeks an effective and constructive engagement with its three recognised trade unions; the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, Prospect and PDA. The Department does not offer any funding directly to these unions but is committed to granting reasonable time off for carrying out trades union duties.

Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what services provided by his Department and its related agencies translation services are provided.

Anne McGuire: The Department and its related agencies make use of translation services in respect of all the services they deliver where relevant documents are received in a foreign language. Similarly where a person contacts the Department or any of its agencies either in person or by telephone and is unable to conduct their business in English (or Welsh in Wales) then interpretation services are provided. Such services may also be provided for conferences or other meetings hosted by the Department or its related agencies involving visiting foreign delegations.

Unemployment: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies have been advertised in Stroud Job Centre in each of the last 24 months; and what the level of unemployment was in Stroud over the same period.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Month of notification  Number of vacancies notified at Stroud Jobcentre Plus office  Monthly jobseeker's allowance claimant count in Stroud local authority area 
			 December 2004 350 780 
			 January 2005 140 860 
			 February 2005 290 850 
			 March 2005 270 850 
			 April 2005 320 780 
			 May 2005 440 780 
			 June 2005 380 780 
			 July 2005 500 860 
			 August 2005 350 910 
			 September 2005 330 860 
			 October 2005 620 820 
			 November 2005 490 790 
			 December 2005 440 810 
			 January 2006 310 950 
			 February 2006 380 960 
			 March 2006 350 930 
			 April 2006 500 910 
			 May 2006 310 890 
			 June 2006 360 800 
			 July 2006 560 830 
			 August 2006 490 910 
			 September 2006 550 900 
			 October 2006 440 830 
			 November 2006 490 850 
			  Notes:  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Figures are not fully comparable over time and may not indicate developments in he labour market.  3. Unemployment figures are not seasonally adjusted.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System.

Winter Fuel Payments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the additional cost would be of setting the deadline for eligibility to qualify for the winter fuel payment on  (a) 31 October and  (b) 31 December each year;
	(2)  why the deadline for eligibility to qualify for the winter fuel payment is set at 26 September each year; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: If the deadline to qualify for this winter's payment had been 31 October, around 60,000 more people in Great Britain would have become eligible to receive a payment at an additional cost of approximately 8 million. If the deadline had been 31 December, around 150,000 more people in Great Britain would have become eligible to receive a payment at an additional cost of approximately 21 million.
	The qualifying week for winter fuel payments is set in legislation as the third full week in September. We use this date in order to establish entitlement and make payments before Christmas. The process to establish entitlement of over 11 million pensioners takes six weeks and the first payments, to the poorest pensioners, are sent in early November. Payments continue to be sent through to December. If a later date were used, the payment exercise could not be completed in time for the payments to be available by Christmas. We agreed to make all automatic payments by Christmas to reassure pensioners that they will have extra money available to pay for heating their homes during the coldest part of the year.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on advertising with  The Guardian newspaper, including online, in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister spent 13,990 (excl. VAT) on advertising with  The Guardian newspaper, including online, in the financial year 2005-06.

Affordable Housing

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been delivered  (a) nationally and  (b) in each region through section 106 agreements in each of the last three years; how many and what proportion of those homes were available to rent; and how many and what proportion of all total affordable homes delivered in each of the three years resulted from section 106 agreements.

Yvette Cooper: Total number of affordable housing units are shown in the following table by 'social for rent' and by 'all affordable' and by whether section 106 agreements contributed to at least part of the costs.
	
		
			  Affordable units provided by local authorities and registered social landlords 
			   Social rent  All affordable 
			   Total  Of which S106( 1)  Percentage  Total  Of which S106( 1)  Percentage 
			  2003-04   
			 North East 607 128 21 650 133 20 
			 North West 1,712 308 18 2,317 812 35 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,510 502 33 1,815 760 42 
			 East Midlands 1,304 406 31 1,815 898 49 
			 West Midlands 2,139 841 39 2,871 1,199 42 
			 East 2,788 2,003 72 3,823 2,426 63 
			 London 5,386 2,415 45 11,214 3,895 35 
			 South East 4,366 2,358 54 8,768 3,577 41 
			 South West 2,849 1,761 62 3,759 2,680 71 
			 England 22,661 10,722 47 37,032 16,380 44 
			
			  2004-05   
			 North East 619 156 25 728 186 26 
			 North West 1,629 279 17 2,391 631 26 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,207 514 43 1,407 681 48 
			 East Midlands 1,268 766 60 1,944 1,294 67 
			 West Midlands 2,124 1,039 49 3,352 1,672 50 
			 East 2,797 2,150 77 3,907 2,710 69 
			 London 5,142 2,536 49 9,423 3,725 40 
			 South East 4,052 3,122 77 8,239 5,327 65 
			 South West 2.274 1,272 56 3,459 1,949 56 
			 England 21,112 11,834 56 34,850 18,175 52 
			
			  2005-06   
			 North East 771 197 26 972 269 28 
			 North West 1,621 503 31 2,723 1,097 40 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,421 650 46 1,999 1,039 52 
			 East Midlands 1,615 1,040 64 3,003 1,914 64 
			 West Midlands 2,353 1,024 44 4,469 2,046 46 
			 East 2,983 2,110 71 5,304 3,229 61 
			 London 5,573 3,410 61 11,038 4,981 45 
			 South East 4,171 3,497 84 9,171 6,168 67 
			 South West 2,842 1,861 65 4,520 3,126 69 
			 England 23,350 14,292 61 43,199 23,869 55 
			 (1) A section 106 agreement contributed at least part of the cost.  Source: Housing Corporation, annual returns from local authorities (HSSA).

Audit Commission

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances the Audit Commission requests the bank details of spouses and partners of local authority employees; what the purpose is of requesting such information; what use will be made of the information; and under what legislation such requests are made.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 January 2007
	This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply has been placed in the Library of the House.

Buncefield Oil Disaster

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures have been put in place since the Buncefield disaster to inform hon. Members about control of major accident hazard registered sites within their constituency.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 18 January 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	Regional and local resilience fora are informed of sites which are subject to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) for civil contingencies purposes. The information is also available to chief planning officers of local authorities for planning purposes.
	There are no measures in place to separately inform Members of Parliament about such sites in their constituencies. This has not changed since the fire and explosion at Buncefield in December 2005.

Council Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which councils in Essex  (a) retain ownership and  (b) are consulting on the disposal of ownership of council housing stock.

Yvette Cooper: Basildon, Brentwood, Colchester, Epping Forrest, Harlow, Tendring and Uttlesford retain ownership of council housing stock. Of these Colchester has delegated its housing management functions to an arm's length management organisation (ALMO) and Basildon has applied for the round six ALMO programme.
	Braintree and Rochford have places on the 2006 large scale voluntary transfer programme, and have already balloted their tenants, who voted in favour of stock transfer in both cases. Castle Point also has a place on the 2006 programme but have yet to formally consult with tenants on their proposals.

Council Tax

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) disabled people and  (b) people who receive disability allowance have benefited from the disabled band reduction scheme in relation to their council tax.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 January 2006
	121,996 properties were benefiting from the council tax disabled band reduction scheme as at 18 September 2006.
	Information on how many  (a) disabled people and  (b) people who receive disability allowance were benefiting from the scheme is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Annual Report

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding streams aimed at tackling homelessness were reduced as referred to on page 45 of her Department's annual report for 2006.

Yvette Cooper: Since 2002-03 every local housing authority in England has received a grant from my Department to help deliver its homelessness prevention strategy, including the delivery of key Government targets around rough sleeping, Bed and breakfast usage and achieving a 50 per cent. reduction in the use of temporary accommodation by 2010.
	In 2004-05, 36 local authorities received a reduction in their homelessness grant compared with the previous year, as a result of a redistribution of the Department's overall homelessness grant to better reward performance and focus on priority areas. As part of the same exercise, 18 local authorities received an increase in grant. In general, there has been no evidence of the reductions resulting in a negative impact on homelessness acceptance levels in the areas concerned.
	Details of the Department's total grant to local housing authorities over the last three years is in the following table. In the same period, new cases of homelessness have reduced by 22 per cent. as a result of successful prevention schemes being put in place, supported by DCLG's homelessness grants.
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 45. 8 
			 2005-06 44.5 
			 2006-07 46.3

Departmental Communications

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on external media trainers in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire and Rescue Service

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many training days were delivered at divisional level by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The Department does not hold this information in the form requested. Available figures for training days delivered at all levels are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Training days delivered by East Sussex FRS 
			   Uniformed staff  Non uniformed staff  Total 
			 2001-02 5,836 207 6,043 
			 2002-03 3,767 263 4,030 
			 2003-04 7,298 404 7,702 
			 2004-05 4,728 364 5,092 
			 2005-06 5,918 779 6,697 
			  Note: 15 working days were lost because of strike action in 2002-03.  Source: Fire and Rescue Service returns to Communities and Local Government.

Fire and Rescue Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) work related and  (b) fire related injuries were sustained by Lancashire fire fighters in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The information available is for the period 2002-03 to 2005-06, and is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of Lancashire fire fighters injured 
			   At fires  Other work related  Total 
			 2001-02 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2002-03 57 64 121 
			 2003-04 51 53 104 
			 2004-05 60 58 118 
			 2005-06 34 54 88 
			  Notes:  15 days were lost because of strike action in 2002-03. Figures were not provided by the fire and rescue service for 2001-02.  Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to Communities and Local Government

Fire and Rescue Service

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average pay rise awarded to senior management at the Kent Fire Service was for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Angela Smith: The Department does not hold specific details of individual pay awards. The national pay and conditions for fire and rescue service senior managers are negotiated by the National Joint Council for Brigade Managers of Fire and Rescue Services.
	In December 2006 the National Joint Council reached agreement on a two-year settlement to cover the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007 as follows:
	With effect from 1 January 2006, an increase of 2.5 per cent., together with a further 1.2 per cent. in recognition of a revised scheme of conditions of service.
	With effect from 1 January 2007 an increase of 2.0 per cent., together with a further 0.3 per cent. in recognition of a revised scheme of conditions of service.
	The scheme of conditions of service provides guidance to Fire and Rescue Authorities on the process of setting salary levels. This process should include consideration of the minimum salary levels for chief officers in relevant sized local authorities, market rates of pay for senior managers in a range of private and public sector organisations, and evidence of recruitment and/or retention difficulties with existing minimum rates.

Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1131W, on the green belt, how many hectares of green belt land had green belt designation removed in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 13 December,  Official Report, column 1131W.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many home information pack training courses have been subsidised from the public purse.

Yvette Cooper: No home inspector training courses have been subsidised from the public purse.

Home Inspectors

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department has provided from the public purse towards the training of home inspectors.

Yvette Cooper: No home inspector training has been funded from the public purse by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Homebuy Scheme

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the Government support to be provided as part of the Open Market HomeBuy scheme in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008,  (d) 2009 and  (e) 2010; and on what basis these estimates were made;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the Government support to be provided as part of the New Build HomeBuy scheme in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008,  (d) 2009 and  (e) 2010; and on what basis these estimates have been made;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the Government support to be provided as part of the Social HomeBuy scheme in (a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008,  (d) 2009,  (e) 2010 and  (f) in total to date; and on what basis these estimates have been made.

Yvette Cooper: The allocations for 2006-08 for Open Market HomeBuy, New Build HomeBuy and Social HomeBuy through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme are as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 Open Market HomeBuy 315 
			 New Build HomeBuy 655 
			 Social HomeBuy 14 
		
	
	Allocations for years beyond March 2008 will be subject to the forthcoming spending review.

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many vacant dwellings there were in  (a) Chorley and  (b) Lancashire in the latest period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: At October 2005 Chorley district council reported a total of 1,293 vacant homes. At October 2005 there were an estimated 27,028 vacant homes in Lancashire. These figures are based on all vacancies, including those of less than 6 months.

Housing

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many vacant dwellings there were in  (a) East Sussex and  (b) Eastbourne in the latest period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: At October 2005 there were an estimated 12,896 vacant homes in East Sussex. At October 2005 Eastbourne district council reported a total of 2,596 vacant homes. These figures are based on all vacancies, including those of less than 6 months.
	 Source:
	Council Tax Base return (CTB1) from local authorities.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the  (a) total cost of and  (b) cost per house to (i) councils, (ii) housing associations and (iii) arm's length management organisations of meeting the decent homes standard.

Yvette Cooper: The cost per house of meeting the decent homes standard varies across the country and the Department does not collect those figures separately. Some local authorities are refurbishing the houses in their area significantly above the decent homes standard. What the improved standard is and how it will be achieved will be determined by local circumstances and the level of resources that can be brought to the programme locally. The Government expect over 40 billion to be spent on refurbishing council houses by 2010, this includes raising houses above the decent homes standard.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost of bringing all local authority housing up to the decent homes standard by 2010; what resources have been made available to achieve this standard; and what plans she has to make additional funding available in the next three years.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1997 the Government have increased the funding available to councils to invest in the improvement of their stock. This year spend by council per home is about 1,100 compared with spend equivalent of 800 in 1997. This is a 30 per cent. increase in real terms. On top of that we will have also made 3.7 billion available for ALMOs delivering improvements to council housing stock, and 2.7 billion for PFI schemes by March 2008. Future levels of funding for gap funded transfers and ALMOs are being negotiated as part of the comprehensive spending review process.

Islamic Sharia Council

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants in her Department have held meetings with the Islamic Sharia Council; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Neither Ministers nor officials from Communities and Local Government have met with the Islamic Sharia Council.

Light Pollution

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been produced for local authorities on the effective use of the planning process in reducing light pollution.

Yvette Cooper: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is now leading on the development of guidance on light pollution.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentive

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has received from the Valuation Office Agency the information on which the local authority business growth incentive (LABGI) will be based; if she will publish this information; and when the City of Newcastle will be informed of the LABGI it will receive.

Phil Woolas: The information on which the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme (LABGI) will be based has not yet been received by this Department. Our September announcement confirmed our intention to notify local authorities of their grant in February 2007. The supporting information will be published on our website at this time.

Local Government Finance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the performance of local authorities in matching central government funding for disabled facilities grants.

Yvette Cooper: The latest available data on mandatory disabled facilities grant (DFG) expenditure from the local authorities housing strategy statistical return show that 221 million was spent in 2005-06. Central government contribution to 60 per cent. of DFG was 121 million, while authorities contributed 100 million, well above the required 40 per cent. matched funding.
	In addition, local authorities are required to complete an annual claim form to the Department and maintain financial records which are subject to auditing requirements. The audit includes a check on the level of contribution claimed from central government. If an authority cannot find the matched funding, central government funding cannot be used. However, authorities do have the flexibility to carry over funding to the following year.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much Government grant per head was received by each local authority in England, excluding education spending, in each year from 1998-99 to the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much was allocated in terms of per capita government grant to local authorities for purposes other than education in  (a) 1998-99 and  (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The information is not available as it is not possible separately to identify funding for education. This is because many central Government grants are unhypothecated.

Muslim Groups

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what response she has made to the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Body Consultation Findings and Conclusions.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 15 January 2007
	The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has not yet responded to any report on the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board. The board has not yet published a formal report of their programme of consultations but meetings have been held to discuss the programme and the Government look forward to their findings.

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in her Department and its executive agencies; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: These individuals are named in the annual remuneration reports which forms part of the resource accounts completed by Communities and Local Government and each of its executive agencies, and the cash equivalent transfer value of their public sector pensions is therefore reported annually. This information is already in the public domain.

Rough Sleepers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on housing rough sleepers since May 1997; and what reductions in rough sleeping have resulted.

Yvette Cooper: The Government recognised the need to increase investment significantly in order to tackle rough sleeping in a sustainable way. This helped achieve the Prime Minister's target of a two-thirds reduction in rough sleeping from the 1998 baseline of 1,850 rough sleepers on the streets of England on any single night. The target was met ahead of time and to date is being sustained. In 2006 there were just over 500, a figure which represents a 73 per cent. reduction on the baseline level.
	Historically, there has been capital expenditure by the Housing Corporation under several rough sleepers initiatives. The rough sleepers unit was set up in 1999 with a budget of almost 200 million over its three-year lifetime. Almost 80 million was administered by the Housing Corporation for permanent accommodation.
	Since 2002-03 local authorities have been responsible for tackling rough sleeping as part of their homeless strategies. Homelessness grant is allocated to support local strategies to ensure the rough sleeping target is sustained. The 90 million Hostels Capital Improvement Programme for 2005-06 to 2007-08 is bringing further improvements by making hostels places of change.
	Finally, the Supporting People grant programme allocated through 150 administering authorities enables the provision of housing-related support services to a wide range of vulnerable groups, including rough sleepers.
	The following table sets out details of the funding for rough sleepers.
	
		
			   million 
			   Local authorities  Voluntary organisations  Hostels Capital Improvement Programme  Supporting People 
			 2006-07 46.3 23.0 20.5 n/a 
			 2005-06 44.5 15.0 41.4 16.3 
			 2004-05 45.8 14.8 15.6 15.0 
			 2003-04 50.6 20.3  12.7 
			 2002-03 48.2 25.0   
			 2001-02 3.5 36.6   
			 2000-01 2.9 28.6   
			 1999-2000 3.1 22.6   
			 1998-99 0.0 19.6   
			 1997-98 0.0 15.8   
			 n/a = Not yet available.

Social Housing

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on the maintenance of social housing for rent in each year since 1995.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 15 January 2006
	We do not collect details from local authorities of actual expenditure on the maintenance of social housing.

Social Housing

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) longest,  (b) shortest and  (c) average waiting times were for persons seeking (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four bedroom council properties in local authority areas in England and Wales in each of the last three years; and which councils had the  (A) highest and  (B) lowest waiting times.

Yvette Cooper: The information is not held centrally.

Sustainable Communities Plan

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1657W, on the sustainable communities plan, how much was allocated to each scheme in Kent Thameside that has received support from the Thames Gateway Growth Area Fund.

Yvette Cooper: The following projects have been allocated funding from the Thames Gateway Growth Area Fund. For clarity, some schemes (in italics) are shown as a number of project parts.
	
		
			
			  Town Centre RegenerationGravesend 1,600,000 
			   
			  North East Gravesend Canal Basin Regeneration 11,350,000 
			 Viability and Master Planning 500,000 
			 Gravesend/Canal Basin 250,000 
			 Accommodating Excellence 500,000 
			   
			  Town Centre RegenerationDartford 178,312 
			 Viability and Master Planning 500,000 
			 Environmental Improvements 1,485,838 
			 Matrix Centre Acquisition 1,923,000 
			 Unwins Depot 8,250,000 
			 Market Street Acquisition 160,000 
			 Steam Crane Wharf Works 133,850 
			 Darenth Gateway Study 100,000 
			 Milestone Garage Acquisition 350,000 
			 Glaxo East Site 1,400,000 
			 Darenth Valley Path 974,000 
			   
			  Swanscombe Peninsula Regeneration 12,000,000 
			 Swanscombe Peninsula Feasibility Study 300,000 
			   
			  Northfleet Embankment Regeneration (Part 1) 5,000,000 
			   
			  Fastrack 9,000 
			 Implementation Strategy Study 306,801 
			 Additional LTP Assessment 119,186 
			 PPP/PFI Project Development 1,069,607 
			 Vehicle Procurement 2,504,406 
			 Delivery of the Project 1,351,000 
			 Gun Barrel Route 550,000 
			   
			  Kent Thameside Delivery Board 2,882,000 
			   
			  Swanscombe Regeneration 1,001,100 
			   
			  Dartford Town Centre GSK Land Acquisition 3,750,000 
			   
			  Gravesend Town Centre  
			 Acquisition of Beauwater Sports Ground 700,000 
			 Gravesend Station Quarter Masterplan 100,000 
			 Heritage Quarter Design 200,000 
			   
			  Northfleet Embankment (Part 2) 12,000,000 
			   
			  Managing the MarshesLand Purchase 2,279,800 
			   
			  Jeskyn's FarmGravesend Community Woodland  
			 Acquisitions 2,011,500 
			 Initial Site Works 135,000 
			 Site Delivery Team 401,000 
			 Consultation 416,000 
			 Infrastructure 952,000 
			 Habitat 770,000 
			 Contingency 221,000 
			 A2 Footbridges 900,000 
			   
			  The Old Rectory 250,000 
			   
			  Homes and Roads Transport Infrastructure  
			 Engineering Studies 500,000 
			 Tariff Feasibility 50,000 
			 Gravesend's Transport Quarter 250,000 
			   
			  Innovation Lab, The Bridge, Dartford 450,000 
			   
			  Shorne Marshes and Shoremead Fort (RSPB) 170,000 
			  Gateway Knowledge Alliance  
			 GKA: Wilmington Hall School 30,770 
			 GKA: Mid Kent College 37,430 
			 GKA: Darent Federation Dartford 17,450 
			 GKA: Darent Federation Axton Chase 17,450 
			 GKA: Northfleet Arts Centre 35,000 
			 GKA: Thamesview School 60,000 
			   
			  Green Grid and Environment Programme  
			 Green Grid: Ancient Woodlands Country Park 10,818 
			 Green Grid: Enhancement of Darent Valley study 20,000 
			 Green Grid: Shorne Wood Country Park 924,000 
			 Green Grid: Swanscombe Heritage Park 370,000 
			 Green Grid: Dartford Heath 156,000 
			 Green Grid: Managing the Marshes 145,000 
			 Green Grid: Cobham and Ashenbank Management Scheme 746,500 
			 Cobham ParkSouth Lodge Barn 340,000 
			   
			 Total Kent Thameside 86,164,818

Trade Unions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department has given to individual trade unions in the last three years.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government, like its predecessor Departments, does not provide funding for any individual trade unions. However departmental staff who are elected trade union representatives are provided with 'facility time' to undertake trade union activities, and receive 'help in kind' in the form of office space and equipment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Ammunition Sales

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce controls on the sale of ammunition  (a) components,  (b) tools and  (c) blanks.

Tony McNulty: The need for additional controls to prevent the illegal assembly of ammunition was considered during the passage of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. The new provisions in section 35 will impose restrictions on the sale and purchase of primers and will make it more difficult for criminals to illegally manufacture rounds. Without a primer the ammunition is inert.

Animals: Scientific Procedures Inspectorate

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate last visited Nafovanny, in Vietnam; what their findings were; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate last visited Nafovanny's two main facilities in Long Thanh, Vietnam in March 2005. They identified shortcomings in animal accommodation and care and we informed the breeding centre that once pending orders for animals for use in the United Kingdom were supplied, its status as an approved centre would cease. By the end of 2005 we had received reassurances and evidence that significant improvements had been made. Subject to being satisfied that further additional safeguards and welfare-related measures are in place, we believe Nafovanny should be able to meet the standards we would expect of such a centre. Should Nafovanny wish to continue to supply animals for use in the United Kingdom we will revisit the relevant facilities.

Antisocial Behaviour

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for antisocial behaviour in Wirral, South in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: There is no criminal offence of antisocial behaviour. Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that 20 persons were proceeded against at magistrates court for offences under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, in Merseyside police force area, 2005. It is not possible to provide a further break down as the data are not collected at this level of detail.

Antisocial Behaviour

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for antisocial behaviour in Chorley in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: There is no criminal offence of antisocial behaviour. Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that four persons were proceeded against in magistrates' court for offences under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, in Chorley Local Justice area, 2005.

Armed Robberies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many armed robberies took place in Essex in each of the past five years.

Tony McNulty: Available data relate to the period 2000-01 to 2004-05 and are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: robberies( 1)  recorded by Essex police in which firearms (including air weapons) were reported to have been used, 2000-01 and 2004-05 
			   Number of offences 
			 2000-01 47 
			 2001-02(2,3) 56 
			 2002-03 80 
			 2003-04 70 
			 2004-05 25 
			 (1) Robbery includes business and personal. (2) Figures may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before  1 April 2002. (3) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this.

ASBOs

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been made by courts in Surrey in each of the last three years; and how many such orders have been breached.

Tony McNulty: The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts in the Surrey Criminal Justice System (CJS) area and the number subsequently proven in court( 1)  to have been breached, for orders issued between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005 (latest available) 
			   Number of ASBOs issued( 2) 
			   Total  of which breached( 3)  at least once by the end of 2005 
			 2003 7 4 
			 2004 48 31 
			 2005 49 11 
			 (1) Breaches are counted irrespective of where in England and Wales the breach proceedings took place. (2 )Source: As reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform by the Court Service. (3 )Source: OCJR Court Proceedings Database.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the use of dawn raids on asylum seekers;
	(2)  what consultations he has had with legal advisers on the effect of dawn raids on asylum seekers on the right to family life; and what advice he has received on this subject;
	(3)  what notice is given  (a) before and  (b) after dawn raids on asylum seekers to schools attended by the children of those asylum seekers arrested in the raids;
	(4)  for what reasons dawn raids on asylum seeker families before 8:00 a.m. are used; and what notification is given to  (a) the local police,  (b) legal advisers and  (c) hon. Members of the asylum seekers of those raids.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) do not conduct 'raids' against asylum seekers. Officers undertake operational visits to detain and remove persons who no longer have the right to remain in the UK and do so in line with operational policy and guidance.
	In terms of representations the following were consulted during the course of the review of IND's family removals processes, which included the consideration of the timing of detention visits:
	Children's Commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and N Ireland
	Social Services
	Scottish Executive
	Glasgow City Council
	Independent Monitoring Board, Yarl's Wood Detention Centre
	ACPO and ACPOS
	Medical Foundation
	Save the Children
	Refugee Council
	Scottish Refugee Council
	ILPA (Independent Law Practitioners Association)
	BID (Bail for Immigration Detainees)
	Scottish Refugee Policy Forum
	The Law Society for Scotland.
	In addition, Adjournment debates on family removals were held on 10 and 19 January 2006, raised by the hon. Members for Sunderland, South and for Falkirk respectively.
	Legal advice on immigration enforcement visits with regard to the right to family life was sought when the Human Rights Act came into effect in October 2000. Legal advice was also provided on the instructions to IND officers, contained in the operational enforcement manual (OEM), with regard to conducting early morning visits. The advice provided was that actions of officers had to be proportionate to the legitimate aim of maintaining an effective immigration control as set out in the Immigration Act 1971, and that each case had to be assessed on its individual merits. IND is aware of the possible traumatising effect of early morning visits when they seek to remove the families of failed asylum seekers. Every effort is made to conduct an immigration enforcement visit with the least disruption to the children and at the best time of day to pick up a family as an entire unit, e.g. before any children depart for school or parents depart for work.
	Information on notifying schools of family detention visits is contained in the chapter 58 of the OEM, and the family removal policy notice (EPU 2/06), both of which are available on the IND website. Chapter 46 of the OEM contains information on early morning visits and about notifying the police of all enforcement operations. Where a person has legal representatives, they are sent copies of all enforcement decision notices which inform the person of their liability to removal. Information on notifying a person of removal directions and the opportunity to seek legal advice is contained in chapter 44 of the OEM.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were returned to Afghanistan in each of the last 12 months.

John Reid: The table shows the number of persons, who had claimed asylum at some stage, who were removed to Afghanistan between October 2005 and September 2006, by month. These figures include people departing voluntarily after enforcement action has been initiated against them, people leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and include those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Information on removals of asylum seekers is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns( 1)  of asylum applicants( 2) , including dependants, removed to Afghanistan, October 2005 to September 2006( 3,4) 
			  Number of asylum applicants 
			  Month  Total asylum applicants removed 
			 October 2005 95 
			 November 2005 80 
			 December 2005 70 
			 January 2006 95 
			 February 2006 100 
			 March 2006 85 
			 April 2006 70 
			 May 2006 75 
			 June 2006 70 
			 July 2006 65 
			 August 2006 65 
			 September 2006 95 
			 Total(5) 965 
			 (1) Includes enforced removals, persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (2) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. (3) Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum due to rounding. (4) Provisional figures. (5) October 2005 to September 2006.

Community Support Officers

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the recruitment of community support officers in Wirral, South.

Tony McNulty: Police community support officer (PCSO) recruitment is a matter for the force concerned.
	The Home Office has provided funding through the Neighbourhood Policing Fund to increase the number of PCSOs in Merseyside to 466. It is a matter for the chief constable how these are deployed across the force area.

Crime Statistics

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many muggings (personal robberies) were committed in each of the four Humberside police divisions in the last 12 months; and how many were committed on 11 to 16-year-olds in each case.

John Reid: The recorded crime statistics, collected centrally, relate to numbers of offences. The series does not contain information on victims or offenders.
	The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences of robbery of personal property in Humberside police force area 2005-06 
			  Basic command unit  Robbery of personal property 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 70 
			 Kingston upon Hull 671 
			 North East Lincolnshire 194 
			 North Lincolnshire 155

Data Sets

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police raids were conducted on the wrong premises as a result of an address error in the last two years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office. The exercise of entry, search and seizure powers by police is an operational matter for the chief officer of the individual force concerned.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was to his Department of conferences relating to the UK's EU Presidency.

Joan Ryan: During the UK(2005) Presidency of the EU the Home Department organised a major ministerial meeting in Newcastle-Gateshead and 17 other presidency badged events/seminars.
	The total cost for these events was approximately 2,325,637 of which 1,753,350 was paid by the Home Office.

Dispersal Orders

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1045W, to the hon. Member for Castle Point on dispersal orders, what data are being collected.

John Reid: Since April 2006 information on dispersal orders has been collected by all forces as part of the Annual Data Requirement. This information covers the number of authorisations made, the number of individuals dispersed and the number of young people aged under 16 removed to their place of residence. These data are being analysed.

Dog Fouling and Litter

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions have been made and  (b) fixed penalty notices were issued by each local authority in East Sussex for (i) dog fouling and (ii) dropping of litter in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts in Sussex police force area show that one person was prosecuted in 2004 under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 Section 3, while four persons were prosecuted (two in 2003 and two in 2004) under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Section 87 for depositing litter. This information is not collected at local authority level.
	The number of fixed penalty notices issued for the offence of dog fouling and dropping litter in all local authorities in East Sussex is provided in Table 2. These data are submitted on an annual basis by local authorities to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	In addition, the penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was introduced in England and Wales in 2004. Under the scheme the police are able to issue persons suspected of committing specified minor offences, including littering, with a fixed penalty notice of 50. No admission of guilt is required and payment of the penalty discharges all liability to conviction for the offence. The number of PNDs issued for littering in Sussex police force area for the years 2004-06 (January to June 2006 provisional data) can be found in PND table 1. PND data cannot currently be broken down further than police force areas. PNDs cannot currently be issued for the offence of dog fouling.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for depositing and leaving litter in Sussex police force area, 2004 to 06 
			   Depositing and leaving litter 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 4 
			 2006(1) 9 
			 Total 13 
			 (1) January to June 2006 provisional data.  Source: RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued by East Sussex for dog fouling offences under the Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996 and for litter under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the financial years 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			   2002-03  2003-04 
			   Litter  Dogs  Litter  Dogs 
			  Local authority  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid 
			 Brighton and Hove BC 0 0 0 0 298 242 0 0 
			 Eastbourne BC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hastings BC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewes DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rother DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wealden DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			   Litter  Dogs  Litter  Dogs 
			  Local authority  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid  Issued  Paid 
			 Brighton and Hove BC 246 122 0 0 45 20 0 0 
			 Eastbourne BC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hastings BC 0 0 0 0 31 12 2 1 
			 Lewes DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rother DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wealden DC 0 0 0 0 33 8 0 0 
			  Source: DEFRA

Driving Without Insurance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for driving without insurance in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, for the offence of 'using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks', from 2000 to 2004 (latest available) is provided in the following table.
	2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks( 1)  England and Wales 2000 to 2004 
			   Total number of offences 
			 2000 391,659 
			 2001 388,298 
			 2002 410,398 
			 2003(2) 447,267 
			 2004 441,819 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 143 (2). (2) As from 1 June 2003, 'driving a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks' became a fixed penalty offence.  Notes:  1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is underway to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Drug Intervention Programme: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug users are registered with the Eastbourne drug intervention programme.

Vernon Coaker: Eastbourne is part of East Sussex Drug Action Team area which is part of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) Non-intensive arrangements. East Sussex DAT receives funding for key aspects of the programme including arrest referral and the 24/7 phone line for clients.
	DIP management information indicates that, in November 2006 the cumulative case load for East Sussex Drug Action Team area stood at 71 clients. In this context, being on the case load means that individuals are being case managed by drug workers, having been assessed as requiring interventions which are agreed in a specific care plan. The drugs worker will ensure that there is at all times co-ordination of the care plan, which in addition to drug treatment may include support with issues relating to accommodation, finances and rebuilding family relationships. The cumulative case load will change as new clients are engaged and existing ones no longer require management or are temporarily suspended while their management is supervised elsewhere.

Gateway Protection Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down by country of origin the number of refugees in the Gateway Protection Programme.

Liam Byrne: The UK is committed to providing a safe haven for people escaping torture or persecution. To this end the Gateway Protection Programme was introduced in April 2003. So far a total of 617 refugees have been resettled to the UK.
	Nationalities are chosen following consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. By country of origin, so far the programme has resettled principal applicants from the Democratic Republic of Congo (46), Burma (40), Liberia (36), Ethiopia (24) and the Sudan (15). They have been resettled to the UK with their dependant families numbering 158 Congolese (DRC), 88 Burmese, 83 Liberians, four Sierra Leoneans, 54 Ethiopians, one Somali and 68 Sudanese.

Gypsies and Travellers

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Kent constabulary has not moved on illegally parked Gypsies and Travellers in each of the last two years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 11 January 2007
	While the Kent police has a key role to play in enforcing the closure of unlawful encampments it should be noted that responsibility for dealing with such does not rest solely with the force. Other stakeholders and agencies, including private landlords, also possess discretionary eviction powers to deal with such sites and will, on occasions, take the lead in this. The force works closely with these partners, whose various responsibilities are captured in a locally agreed 'Memorandum of Understanding'. As such, the action taken by Kent police should not be seen in isolation, but is instead often part of a joined-up response.
	Where the force takes primary responsibility for dealing with an unlawful encampment the decision to use statutory powers will reflect all the attendant circumstances, including the social, economic, educational and medical needs of those so encamped. In the event immediate eviction would be disproportionate to the issues at hand, existing policy allows for the exercise of discretion by allowing the trespassers to remain for a limited period before further action to enforce closure is taken. Where this is so, the decision not to automatically evoke an eviction order is the subject of robust scrutiny and is fully recorded.
	Kent police maintains records of all of the unlawful encampments it has dealt with, however it is only since 2006 that they have gathered sufficient detail to answer the question as framed.
	Records show that in 2005 the force recorded 136 unlawful encampments of which approximately 50 were closed as a result of enforcement. In 2006 it recorded 141 unlawful encampments. Of these 58 encampments were closed as a result of enforcement, while a further 75 were resolved when the trespassers left voluntary, most likely following discussions with the police or other parties. A breakdown of the enforcement figures show that 10 of these cases were resolved directly by police using the powers under section 61 and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, while the others followed action by other partners under the same Act, or by bailiffs or upon a court direction.
	In carrying out its work, Kent police is mindful of its statutory obligation under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to:
	Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination
	Promote equality of opportunity
	Promote good relations between people of different groups.
	English Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are ethnic categories recognised in law.

Hizb ut-Tahir

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2006 to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer),  Official Report, column 643W, on Hizb ut-Tahir, what the reasons are for the policy; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: holding answer 16 January 2007
	The Home Office keeps the sufficiency of the list of proscribed organisations under review. It does not generally comment on groups which may or may not be added to that list in order not to prejudge a group before a decision is made, to avoid any influence over the Home Secretary's eventual decision, and to avoid pre-alerting groups to their possible proscription.

Human Trafficking

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who have been victims of human trafficking into the sex trade in the UK have been deported after being taken into custody by the authorities, broken down by  (a) year and  (b) region of the UK for which information is available.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally. Women who are accepted onto the Poppy project are not subject to any removal action during an initial four-week period while they make decisions about their future and longer-term support is offered in return for co-operation with the authorities. Where appropriate, these victims are provided with information and assistance to help them voluntarily return to their country of origin and removal action is only ever taken as a last resort.

Identity and Passport Service

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1667W, to the hon. Member for Rayleigh on the Identity and Passport Service, if he will break down the figures by project area for 2005-06;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1667W, to the hon. Member for Rayleigh on the Identity and Passport Service, what the reasons were for the increase in spending since 2003-04;
	(3)  how much was spent on rebranding the UK Passport Service as the Identity and Passport Service.

John Reid: holding answer 18 January 2007
	It is not possible for the Identity and Passport Service to break down the total non-permanent staff costs by individual project area for 2005-06. Also non-permanent staff were also employed within corporate support areas. The breakdown of the 2005-06 costs between projects overall and corporate support is shown as follows.
	
		
			  Non permanent staff costs 
			  2005-06   
			 Projects 9,078,259 
			 Corporate Support 8,108,570 
			 Total 17,186.829 
		
	
	The main reason for the increase in spending since 2003-04 is the need to support, through proper project management arrangements, delivery of a highly complex change programme which has included the introduction of e.passports, interviews for first time applicants, the application of the personal identity process to first time adult applicants, and its development through other data sharing arrangements, the trialling of facial recognition as an anti-fraud tool and preparation for the launch of the Identity and Passport Service. Much of this activity required specialist skills not readily available within the Agency, and skills that would not be required permanently.
	The Agency remains committed to replacing wherever possible, non-permanent resources with permanent staff through the training and development of its own existing staff, and other means.
	The Agency expects to have spent 450,000 on re-branding from UK Passport Service to the Identity and Passport Service which represents 0.1 per cent. of the expected total Agency spend in the 2006-07 financial year. This expenditure includes costs associated with the brand development, external signage and website development.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 831-32W, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, when he expects the figures for correspondence from hon. Members and responses to be published on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website; and if he will place the available figures in the Library.

Liam Byrne: The expanded information we have undertaken to provide, starting with the final quarter of 2006, will include performance against the 20 days target for answering Members' letters. The figures will therefore be published at the beginning of February when 20 working days from the end of December have elapsed. I am not persuaded that we need to place this information in the Library as well as on the website.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates the longest outstanding complaints made by hon. Members to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate were received; to which constituencies they relate; what dates have been set for their resolution; and what the reasons are for the delay in each case.

Liam Byrne: Information on which of the 40,000 or so letters and other correspondence sent by Members each year on Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) related matters constitute complaints is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the recommendations of the Directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Complaints Audit Committee he plans to implement; and what timetable he has set to do so.

Liam Byrne: The Complaints Audit Committee (CAC) published their annual report on 14 December 2006. At the same time the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) published a detailed formal response to their report explaining what action we intend to take on each of the CAC's recommendations.
	IND has accepted 52 of the 55 recommendations. At the time of the response 19 of these actions had already been completed.
	A complaints handling programme has been established to overhaul IND's complaints processes in line with Cabinet Office guidance and the CAC's recommendations. The necessary changes will happen over the next 12-15 months.
	Full details and timescales can be found in IND's formal response, available in the Library. It can also be found at:
	www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/cac

IND Website

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website.

John Reid: As part of Home Office reform and the Transformational Government agenda, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) is currently reviewing all of the information it delivers online to improve its overall web presence, and deliver key customer information and transactions through the most appropriate online vehicles. This will make key information much easier for people to find and use.
	With a target date of summer 2007, the IND website will be redeveloped to improve the user experience on the site. The structure and navigation of the site will be redesigned in consultation with actual and potential users and key information will be re-written in a style appropriate for the target audience, using plain English. The site will also reflect IND's new status from April 2007 as a shadow executive agency of the Home Office.
	In the longer term, IND is working with the core Home Office to ensure adherence to the Transformational Government Strategy. This means all of its key information and transactions will be delivered through existing super sites, such as Directgov (for the general public) and Business Link (for businesses), as well as the Home Office corporate website and any other appropriate websites/portals, as specified by any future developments in Transformational Government.

Intelligence Services Commissioner

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the report of the Intelligence Services Commissioner for 2005.

John Reid: holding answer 16 January 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to a question from the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 787W.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered History Month

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department spent on its activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered history month; and what relevant publications, including items for display, were provided for police establishments.

Liam Byrne: The only expenditure by the Home Office, during the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) history month in 2006 was for an event organised by our LGBT staff support network which showed three films for staff. The films were part of the network's resources so the only cost incurred was for light refreshment at a cost of less than 50.
	The Home Office did not provide any specific funding, publications or items for display at police establishments for activities for the LGBT history month.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to curtail fundraising for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in the UK.

Tony McNulty: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) were proscribed under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in March 2001. Under the Terrorism Act 2000 it is unlawful to raise funds for a proscribed group. It is our policy not to comment upon ongoing investigations or operations because of the sensitivity of the information involved and because such comments may prejudice later trials.

National Firearms Register

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the National Firearms Register to be fully operational.

Tony McNulty: The roll-out of the National Firearms Licensing Management System is expected to be completed by March 2007.

National Identity Register

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 7 December 2006,  Official Report, column 645W, to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden on the National Identity Register, what proof an individual will need to provide of his interest in an alternative address; whether there will be a limit on the number of alternative addresses an individual may register; and what penalty will be imposed for registering a false address.

John Reid: Although detailed procedures for registering addresses on the National Identity Register, including proof of address, have yet to be determined, we would expect within reason to be able to record all addresses at which an individual is genuinely resident. Section 28 of the Identity Cards Act makes it a criminal offence to provide false information to the Register, with a maximum term of imprisonment of two years available on conviction on indictment.

National Identity Register

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies had submitted tenders for the establishment of a new national identity database prior to the decision not to proceed with the new database.

John Reid: The National Identity Scheme is currently in a pre-procurement planning phase where the requirements and high level design of the Scheme are developed. The Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme, published in December 2006, provided an overview of the outcome of such work to date.
	As this is a planning phase, no official invitation to tender for contracts for the development of the National Identity Register, by means of an official notice in the  Official Journal of the European Union, has been issued and thus no tenders were ever received from companies to establish the National Identity Register.

Non-mandatory Life Sentences

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the number of prisoners serving non-mandatory life sentences by offence committed.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 15 January 2006
	Information on the numbers of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences in prison establishments in England and Wales as at 30 June 2005 by offence committed can be found in table 8.25 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	It can also be accessed at the following website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1806section8.xls
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and although shown to the last individual the figures may not be accurate to that level.

PCSD Budget

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual budget is of the Police and Crime Standards Directorate; and how many members of staff it employs.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office Police and Crime Standards Directorate was formed in spring 2006 as a single point of delivery to help manage and support performance across policing, crime and drugs.
	The new directorate brought together several areas of Home Office work, including the Drug Interventions Programme, the Home Office arrangements on tackling prolific and other priority offenders, the Police Standards Unit and the Partnership Performance Support Unit.
	In 2006-07 the total budget delegation for the directorate was 204.5 million. The allocation between units is shown in the following table.
	The programmes were delivered by some 150 staff including secondees from police forces and local government, operational researchers, forensic science specialists as well as Home Office officials. The staff as at end of December 2006 in each unit is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Unit  Staff as at 31 December 2006  Total 2006-07 budget ( million) 
			 Local Delivery Unit 13 0.8 
			 Partnership Performance and Support Unit 19.5 2.3 
			 Performance Framework and Assessment Unit 12.6 5.3 
			 Performance and Partnership Policy Unit 17.7 2.3 
			 Police Standards Unit 25 20.1 
			 Offender-based Interventions Unit(1) 47.8 170.0 
			 Business Support Unit 15 3.7 
			 Total 150.6 204.6 
			 (1 )Incorporates Drug Interventions and Prolific and other Priority Offenders Programmes

Police

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the gross revenue expenditure for police authorities per capita was in each year since 1992 in  (a) Devon and Cornwall and  (b) England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: The information requested, where available, is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Gross revenue expenditure per capita, 1991-92 to 2005-06 
			   Devon and Cornwall  England and Wales 
			 1995-96(1,2) 96.26 126.27 
			 1996-97 101.01 134.35 
			 1997-98 104.21 139.13 
			 1998-99 115.03 144.04 
			 1999-2000 116.01 150.20 
			 2000-01 119.67 159.38 
			 2001-02 132.23 171.33 
			 2002-03 142.47 178.78 
			 2003-04 144.32 192.79 
			 2004-05 163.47 217.06 
			 2005-06(3) 163.09 219.64 
			 2006-07(3) 164.37 230.77 
			 (1) Figures before 1995-96 were not reliable due to changes in police authority structure (2) Essex not included (3) Figures are estimates  Source: Gross Revenue Expenditure Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Resident PopulationDepartment for Communities and Local Government

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forms have been made obsolete across forces in England and Wales; and what estimate he has made of  (a) how many of each such type of form identified in the Building Communities, Beating Crime White Paper were completed annually and  (b) how much time each such type of form took to compete.

Tony McNulty: We have worked closely with police forces in eliminating nearly 9,000 forms nationally. The information on the type of form is not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total police officer strength was in  (a) Sussex and  (b) England in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The available data are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer strength (FTE)( 1)  in Sussex and England as at 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006( 2) 
			   Sussex  England 
			 1997 3,085 118,455 
			 1998 2,998 118,140 
			 1999 2,847 117,195 
			 2000 2,822 115,324 
			 2001 2,855 116,547 
			 2002 2,893 120,075 
			 2003 2,989 124,157 
			 2004 3,039 129,688 
			 2005 3,044 131,949 
			 2006 3,092 132,107 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. All officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures) (2 )This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Police and Justice Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends that section 47 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 will come into effect.

Tony McNulty: Section 47 of the Police and Justice Act 2006, which provides for vulnerable defendants to give evidence in a trial by live link, was brought into force on 15 January 2007 by the Police and Justice Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2006.

Police Community Support Officers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers are equipped with stab vests in each police authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is for chief constables to determine which equipment should be issued to police community support officers. Information about their decisions is not collected centrally.

Police Community Support Officers

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the request for police community support officers in Gwent by Gwent police authority.

Tony McNulty: I have now considered what the representatives of Gwent police have said to me, and have decided that there is a case for exceptional treatment. I am therefore making some adjustments to Gwent's neighbourhood policing fund funding and target in 2007-08 and I have written to the Chief Constable and the chair of the authority to let them know my response and its details.

Police Uniform

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a police officer wearing a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection suit will be classed as a constable in uniform.

John Reid: holding answer 16 January 2007
	Yes. An officer in protective equipment which has been officially provided to supplement the police uniform retains the full police powers of an officer in uniform.

Prisons

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violence against prison officers were recorded in prisons in England and Wales between December 2005 and December 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As reported on the Prison Service Incident Reporting System up to 31 December 2006 there were, provisionally, 3,550 assaults on staff in 2006 of which about 270 (7.6 per cent.) were considered serious.
	 Note:
	The Prison Service Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. There is a slight lag in reporting which means that the provisional number mentioned here will rise a little in the coming months. Additionally, such numbers need to be interpreted with caution as some assault incidents may involve more than one victim, e.g. a prisoner and a member of staff. In such cases the incident management system does not distinguish who received the injuries so there may be an element of over counting.

Shotgun Ammunition

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent transfer of licences for shotgun ammunition.

Tony McNulty: Shotgun certificates are personal to the holder, cannot be transferred and must be produced before shotgun cartridges can be purchased.

Special Constables

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) first years cost and  (b) cost in subsequent years is of training and equipping a special constable.

Tony McNulty: These figures are not collected centrally.

Speed Limit Offences

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were found guilty of a speed limit offence in each police force area in each of the last five years; and what the  (a) maximum,  (b) minimum and  (c) average penalty imposed in each police force in each year was for such an offence.

Vernon Coaker: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, up to 2004 (latest available) is given in the tables.
	Information for parts  (a),  (b) and  (c) of the question is given for 2004 (only). To provide data for earlier years would be disproportionate to costs.
	
		
			  Table A: Findings of guilt at all courts for speed limit offences( 1) , by police force area, England and Wales, 2000-04 
			  Number of offences 
			   Total findings of guilt 
			  Police force area  2000( 2)  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Avon and Somerset 4,401 5,769 5,060 6,914 6,996 
			 Bedfordshire 2,041 2,369 1,590 3,589 1,182 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,641 768 533 1,190 1,778 
			 Cheshire 4,625 3,930 4,016 3,110 4,185 
			 Cleveland 1,021 1,357 1,164 1,339 1,732 
			 Cumbria 1,548 1,571 1,622 2,027 2,377 
			 Derbyshire 5,001 6,081 3,754 3,590 3,379 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,290 3,857 3,493 4,954 4,954 
			 Dorset 1,274 958 1,043 1,546 1,710 
			 Durham 1,396 1,794 1,641 1,064 739 
			 Essex 6,349 9,208 14,660 9,357 8,405 
			 Gloucestershire 2,164 1,871 901 820 811 
			 Greater Manchester 14,712 10,566 7,321 6,396 4,838 
			 Hampshire 6,075 5,504 5,043 5,363 4,304 
			 Hertfordshire 2,300 2,110 2,359 2,195 1,823 
			 Humberside 1,945 2,476 1,149 1,209 3,658 
			 Kent 2,276 2,401 1,703 3,012 3,264 
			 Lancashire 5,268 4,468 3,895 6,862 5,078 
			 Leicestershire 2,047 1,791 1,789 3,091 2,235 
			 Lincolnshire 3,579 4,176 3,729 4,316 4,396 
			 London, City of 164 103 567 1,144 1,802 
			 Merseyside 1,439 722 654 972 944 
			 Metropolitan Police 8,364 8,946 7,635 7,208 6,787 
			 Norfolk 1,415 1,488 1,315 2,426 2,809 
			 Northamptonshire 256 406 230 2,877 4,047 
			 Northumbria 3,638 2,451 2,669 2,290 3,881 
			 North Yorkshire 1,225 1,419 1,253 1,529 2,048 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,399 1,764 2,065 3,828 4,213 
			 South Yorkshire 2,560 2,690 1,868 1,231 2,655 
			 Staffordshire  949 1,105 2,237 4,484 
			 Suffolk 1,233 1,252 1,284 776 1,856 
			 Surrey 2,927 3,478 2,021 1,508 287 
			 Sussex 3,541 2,677 1,784 2,819 262 
			 Thames Valley 7,845 9,264 11,086 9,416 8,919 
			 Warwickshire 4,654 3,641 1,758 2,331 1,736 
			 West Mercia 2,741 2,633 2,260 1,347 403 
			 West Midlands 3,523 4,021 4,794 5,132 7,427 
			 West Yorkshire 5,774 4,526 2,366 3,445 4,344 
			 Wiltshire 2,325 2,192 2,696 4,057 4,055 
			 Dyfed-Powys 933 666 623 1,581 1,261 
			 Gwent 4,041 2,826 2,245 2,655 2,283 
			 North Wales 2,826 2,683 3,861 4,340 4,636 
			 South Wales 2,739 1,791 2,015 2,959 4,217 
			 England and Wales 141,415 135,613 124,619 140,052 143,200 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ss. 16, 81, 84, 86, 88 7 89; Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regs. 1973; Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926byelaws made there under. (2) Estimates made for Staffordshire Police Force, who were only able to submit data for a sample of weeks in 2000, have been included in totals only.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Court imposed maximum, minimum and average fine for speed limit offences( 1) , by police force area, England and Wales, 2004 
			  Police force area  Total number of fines  of which: maximum fine given ()  of which: minimum fine given ()  Average fine ()( 2) 
			 Avon and Somerset 6,923 840 (3)10 140 
			 Bedfordshire 1,171 1,000 15 100 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,754 1,000 25 140 
			 Cheshire 4,153 1,000 10 100 
			 Cleveland 1,665 800 10 100 
			 Cumbria 2,366 1,000 20 180 
			 Derbyshire 3,329 1,000 (3)10 130 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,869 1,000 (3)10 130 
			 Dorset 1,666 1,000 (3)10 110 
			 Durham 716 900 (3)10 120 
			 Essex 8,292 1,000 20 90 
			 Gloucestershire 786 1,000 20 120 
			 Greater Manchester 4,745 1,000 (3)10 90 
			 Hampshire 4,237 1,000 (3)10 160 
			 Hertfordshire 1,806 1,000 (3)10 150 
			 Humberside 3,592 750 10 100 
			 Kent 3,223 1,000 10 160 
			 Lancashire 5,030 1,000 10 100 
			 Leicestershire 2,173 1,000 15 150 
			 Lincolnshire 4,356 1,000 20 90 
			 London, City of 1,790 1,000 20 100 
			 Merseyside . 893 600 20 80 
			 Metropolitan Police 6,646 1,000 10 120 
			 Norfolk 2,764 1,000 (3)10 170 
			 Northamptonshire 4,001 750 (3)10 80 
			 Northumbria 3,770 750 15 90 
			 North Yorkshire 2,034 .1,000 18 160 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,146 800 10 110 
			 South Yorkshire 2,584 1,000 20 110 
			 Staffordshire 4,449 1,000 (3)10 120 
			 Suffolk 1,820 1,000 10 160 
			 Surrey 279 1,000 15 170 
			 Sussex 247 900 20 100 
			 Thames Valley 8,862 1,000 (3)10 100 
			 Warwickshire 1,707 1,000 (3)10 170 
			 West Mercia 383 1,000 20 130 
			 West Midlands 7,362 1,000 (3)10 110 
			 West Yorkshire 4,263 1,000 10 120 
			 Wiltshire 4,022 900 10 170 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,231 700 35 130 
			 Gwent 2,270 1,000 20 150 
			 North Wales 4,597 1,000 (3)10 100 
			 South Wales 4,146 1,000 30 100 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ss. 16, 81, 84, 86, 88 7 89; Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regs. 1973; Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926byelaws made there under. (2) Rounded to the nearest 10. (3) Or less.  Notes:  1. Standard Rate maximum fine is Level 3 (1,000). 2. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated.  3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Terrorism Act

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals arrested and detained since 1 August 2006 under the Terrorism Act 2006 for a period of up to and including 28 days have since been re-arrested.

John Reid: The statistics requested are not available as the police do not routinely collate information on re-arrests under terrorism legislation.

Wounding Victims

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims there were of  (a) unlawful woundings and  (b) wounding with intent in each of the last six years in London, broken down by borough operational command unit.

Tony McNulty: The available information relates to offences of more and less serious wounding recorded by the police and is given in the following tables.
	The 'more serious wounding' classification includes offences of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. However, these offences cannot be separately identified from other offences which are recorded within this classification.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences of less serious wounding recorded by the police in London2000-01 and 2001-02 
			  Basic Command Unit  2000-01  2001-02 
			  City of London police   
			 Bishopsgate 114 131 
			 Snowhill 87 61 
			 Total 201 192 
			  Metropolitan police   
			 Barking and Dagenham 689 710 
			 Barnet 1,408 1,294 
			 Bexley 492 648 
			 Brent 1,194 1,118 
			 Bromley 871 954 
			 Camden 2,094 2,060 
			 City of Westminster 2,435 2,495 
			 Croydon 1,561 1,710 
			 Ealing 1,605 1,622 
			 Enfield 1,380 1,513 
			 Greenwich 1,357 1,294 
			 Hackney 1,971 1,805 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,042 1,185 
			 Haringey 1,939 1,830 
			 Harrow 858 868 
			 Havering 754 697 
			 Heathrow 44 40 
			 Hillingdon 1,211 1,483 
			 Hounslow 1,340 1,401 
			 Islington 1,744 1,398 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 998 929 
			 Kingston upon Thames 732 786 
			 Lambeth 2,363 2,776 
			 Lewisham 1,508 1,370 
			 Merton 798 928 
			 Newham 1,429 1,626 
			 Redbridge 830 784 
			 Richmond upon Thames 495 633 
			 Southwark 1,449 1,208 
			 Sutton 421 431 
			 Tower Hamlets 871 864 
			 Waltham Forest 906 1,037 
			 Wandsworth 1,084 1,182 
			 Total 39,873 40,679 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences of less serious wounding recorded by the police in London2002-03 to 2005-06 
			  Basic Command Unit  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  City of London police 
			 Bishopsgate 182 124 155 140 
			 Snowhill 95 146 129 103 
			 Total 277 270 284 243 
			  
			  Metropolitan police 
			 Barking and Dagenham 657 863 2,058 2,472 
			 Barnet 1,165 1,227 2,438 2,427 
			 Bexley 651 717 1,518 1,963 
			 Brent 1,209 1,104 3,138 3,151 
			 Bromley 1,008 1,172 2,375 2,749 
			 Camden 1,864 1,805 2,391 2,577 
			 City of Westminster 2,362 2,448 2,976 3,334 
			 Croydon 1,787 1,812 3,093 3,168 
			 Ealing 1,709 1,730 2,768 3,293 
			 Enfield 1,574 1,343 1,677 1,833 
			 Greenwich 1,661 1,496 2,290 2,962 
			 Hackney 1,748 1,844 2,382 2,835 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,272 1,209 1,328 1,926 
			 Haringey 1,800 1,781 2,424 3,145 
			 Harrow 897 775 1,044 1,174 
			 Havering 620 593 1,316 1,943 
			 Heathrow 52 48 80 60 
			 Hillingdon 1,402 1,284 2,318 2,817 
			 Hounslow 1,731 1,454 1,735 2,459 
			 Islington 1,428 1,469 2,451 2,707 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 993 1,035 1,041 1,294 
			 Kingston upon Thames 530 619 1,444 1,730 
			 Lambeth 2,729 2,815 3,006 3,903 
			 Lewisham 1,357 1,498 2,764 3,995 
			 Merton 841 874 1,412 1,684 
			 Newham 1,498 1,569 3,208 3,536 
			 Redbridge 841 738 1,534 1,956 
			 Richmond upon Thames 401 429 951 1,112 
			 Southwark 1,707 2,074 3,525 3,929 
			 Sutton 493 427 1,154 1,383 
			 Tower Hamlets 827 941 2,046 2,847 
			 Waltham Forest 1,058 1,077 1,789 2,769 
			 Wandsworth 1,325 1,239 2,092 2,602 
			 Total 41,197 41,509 67,766 81,735 
			  Note: The National Crime Recording standard was introduced nationally in April 2002. Figures after that date are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Offences of more serious wounding or other act endangering life recorded by the police in London2000-01 and 2001-02 
			  Basic Command Unit  2000-01  2001-02 
			  City of London police   
			 Bishopsgate 2 5 
			 Snowhill 4 3 
			 Total 6 8 
			
			  Metropolitan police   
			 Barking and Dagenham 46 63 
			 Barnet 43 32 
			 Bexley 29 14 
			 Brent 92 87 
			 Bromley 37 38 
			 Camden 104 89 
			 City of Westminster 105 111 
			 Croydon 89 112 
			 Ealing 83 91 
			 Enfield 60 67 
			 Greenwich 58 50 
			 Hackney 124 91 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 39 53 
			 Haringey 102 106 
			 Harrow 21 22 
			 Havering 37 26 
			 Heathrow 2 2 
			 Hillingdon 43 48 
			 Hounslow 46 51 
			 Islington 92 70 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 45 28 
			 Kingston upon Thames 14 18 
			 Lambeth 116 156 
			 Lewisham 88 76 
			 Merton 14 29 
			 Newham 102 101 
			 Redbridge 39 31 
			 Richmond upon Thames 24 18 
			 Southwark 105 74 
			 Sutton 15 25 
			 Tower Hamlets 106 106 
			 Waltham Forest 59 50 
			 Wandsworth 58 61 
			 Total 2,037 1,996 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Offences of more serious wounding or other act endangering life recorded by the police in London2002-03 to 2005-06 
			  Basic Command Unit  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  City of London police 
			 Bishopsgate 5 1 4 6 
			 Snowhill 5 4 3 4 
			 Total 10 5 7 10 
			  
			  Metropolitan police 
			 Barking and Dagenham 35 65 82 63 
			 Barnet 39 55 49 36 
			 Bexley 21 29 42 48 
			 Brent 54 107 113 115 
			 Bromley 29 43 54 62 
			 Camden 91 127 108 88 
			 City of Westminster 92 158 157 145 
			 Croydon 71 86 100 82 
			 Ealing 96 111 154 112 
			 Enfield 59 51 67 59 
			 Greenwich 49 67 109 94 
			 Hackney 93 139 142 167 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 55 71 77 56 
			 Haringey 78 100 112 143 
			 Harrow 24 36 34 31 
			 Havering 30 36 46 46 
			 Heathrow 0 1 1 2 
			 Hillingdon 46 46 80 69 
			 Hounslow 57 57 71 79 
			 Islington 76 103 112 113 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 38 32 37 33 
			 Kingston upon Thames 20 28 29 34 
			 Lambeth 138 188 156 147 
			 Lewisham 80 105 108 103 
			 Merton 21 30 45 40 
			 Newham 79 103 131 115 
			 Redbridge 36 39 72 51 
			 Richmond upon Thames 23 23 29 11 
			 Southwark 97 153 208 191 
			 Sutton 19 18 26 36 
			 Tower Hamlets 79 91 134 152 
			 Waltham Forest 38 62 98 105 
			 Wandsworth 81 72 90 75 
			 Total 1,844 2,432 2,873 2,703 
			  Note: The National Crime Recording standard was introduced nationally in April 2002. Figures after that date are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

DEFENCE

Iran

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the military capability of the Iranian armed forces.

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the military capability of the Iranian armed forces.

Des Browne: We routinely assess the military capability of other nations' armed forces, including those of Iran.

Housing: Service Personnel

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of long-term investment in military accommodation over the last 25 years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Central records of the investment in accommodation over the past 25 years are not available as, until 2003, investment such as on estate maintenance, was incurred through a vast number of contracts placed by a number of budget holders across the Ministry of Defence.
	The initiative to re-launch Defence Estates as an agency in 2003 has resulted in a major reduction in the number of contracts and central recording of maintenance expenditure. I can therefore say that in 2004-05 we spent some 650 million on military accommodation with that figure rising to 700 million for 2005-06 and this financial year. We are also planning to spend over 5 billion on housing and accommodation in the next decade.

Housing: Service Personnel

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of housing for service personnel and their families.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Newbury (Mr. Benyon) and for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham).

Military Helmets

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of military helmets in protecting service personnel from bomb blasts and motor vehicle accidents; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence carries out a continuous programme of detailed testing designed to ensure that levels of protection provided by the helmet are maintained and wherever possible improved. The new Mark 6a helmet offers 40 per cent. more protection and is currently being issued to personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	The combat helmet is designed to lessen the effects of fragmentation injuries. It is not specifically designed for motor vehicle accident protection, although it would clearly reduce the risk of injuries associated with such accidents.

Warships

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the naval building programme since the Strategic Defence Review; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We remain fully committed to our substantial programme of investment in new warships. Since 1997, one submarine and 28 ships have entered service including frigates, amphibious assault ships and support ships. This includes the new Astute Class submarines, Type 45 destroyers, Future Aircraft Carriers and the Military Afloat Reach and Support vessels.

Senior Military Officers

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Chiefs of Staff on public pronouncements by senior serving military officers; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I meet regularly with the Chiefs of Staff to discuss a range of issues. These include the reputation of the armed forces and public statements made by the Ministry of Defence and its senior serving military officers.

Parachute Regiment

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what parachute training is undertaken by the Parachute Regiment.

Adam Ingram: Recruits to the Parachute Regiment attend the Basic Parachute Course at Brize Norton, which includes seven parachute descents. On successful completion personnel receive their wings. Parachute training continues at unit level through programmed collective training exercises.
	In addition 'PARA' qualified soldiers are required to conduct one parachute descent every two years in order to maintain their parachute currency.

Iraq

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on recent developments on the security situation in Iraq.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Baron).

Ammunition

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security measures are in place to protect ammunition being transported by rail within the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence and its rail freight contractor, English, Welsh and Scottish (EWS) Railway Ltd, has a range of measures in place to protect MOD-owned ammunition when it is being transported by rail within the UK.
	All trains carrying MOD ammunition are notified to the British Transport Police, including their itinerary and anticipated stops. The progress of each train is closely monitored using a number of methods, including satellite tracking by the EWS Railway Control Room. When consignments of military explosives are planned to be held or stored on the contractor's property for a period exceeding 48 hours, the contractor is responsible for providing comprehensive security at that location and for notifying the appropriate civil police authority. When a stop is unplanned, the contractor is required to provide adequate security arrangements at the location and inform MOD.
	Although the contractor is fully responsible for security the MOD closely monitors performance through formal quarterly contract performance review meetings.

Ministry of Defence Police Federation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence Police Federation about the strength of the force at Colchester.

Derek Twigg: I have not had any discussion with the Ministry of Defence Police Federation about the strength of the force at Colchester. The Department is currently considering the size of the MOD police complement at Colchester and the chief constable will consult with the Ministry of Defence Police Federation in the usual way before any final decision is reached.

Trident

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which year he expects that the Trident nuclear capability would, if not upgraded, become obsolete.

Des Browne: As the White Paper we published on 4 December makes clear, even with a life extension, our existing Vanguard boats will leave service from the early 2020s. Unless we participate in the life extension programme for our existing Trident D5 missiles, it will not be possible to retain the missiles in service much beyond 2020, except at much greater cost and technical risk.

Trident

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical steps need to be taken by United States personnel prior to the UK being able to fire a Trident missile at an independently identified target.

Des Browne: United States personnel would have no involvement in this process.

Afghanistan

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with counterparts from other NATO countries on the numbers of combat personnel in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I regularly discuss with my NATO counterparts aspects of the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan. Military advice on the force and capabilities required to achieve the ISAF mission is provided by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. I and my ministerial colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development take every opportunity to reinforce the need for all of us to live up to the collective commitment made to Afghanistan in military, financial and political terms.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to  (a) increase recruitment levels to and  (b) reduce outflow from the UK's armed forces.

Derek Twigg: All three services undertake numerous and varied initiatives, both at national and local level, aimed at sustaining and increasing the level of recruitment to the armed forces. Included amongst the many current initiatives are:
	The use of multi-media advertising campaigns;
	Services recruiting teams' attendance at schools, careers fairs and graduate recruitment seminars, road shows, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations;
	Specialist teams to attract doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers and padres by promoting service careers within specialist recruitment shows and through professional bodies;
	Work experience placements within service establishments;
	Personal development courses and look at life courses for young people who express an interest in the armed forces;
	Taster day visits to HM ships and service establishments;
	A dedicated careers website for each of the services complete with a dedicated information support call centre;
	An Army 'on-line' recruiting office, with plans for this to be replicated by the other services;
	Specialist ethnic minority recruiting and diversity action teams aimed at promoting armed forces careers amongst the UK's ethnic minority and faith communities;
	A partnership with Jobcentre Plus, making use of its network (totalling in excess of 1,100) of local outlets.
	Retention measures such as commitment bonuses, re-engagement packages, financial retention initiatives and initiatives to improve work/life balance and working conditions at the front line, continue to be used with the aim of discouraging outflow.
	Our aim is to maintain stable levels of retention through policies that genuinely reflect the priorities of our people and their families whilst optimising their operational effectiveness. For example, the terms and conditions of service in the armed forces are continually being reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate to the requirements and that entitlements are best targeted to enhance recruitment and retention. There are a number of specific initiatives currently being undertaken such as the strategic remuneration review and the defence living accommodation strategy which will contribute towards this effort. In addition, we have made improvements to travel allowances to permit personnel to get home more easily and continue to refine the operational welfare package while also promoting measures such as work/life balance and career breaks to improve the day-to-day lives of service personnel and their families.

Army Strength

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the size of the Army has changed since 1982.

Des Browne: The table shows the Army total strength for each year at 1 April since 1982:
	
		
			   Total strength 
			 1982 163,150 
			 1983 159,070 
			 1984 161,540 
			 1985 162,400 
			 1986 161,400 
			 1987 159,690 
			 1988 158,110 
			 1989 155,570 
			 1990 152,810 
			 1991 147,640 
			 1992 145,360 
			 1993 134,580 
			 1994 123,030 
			 1995 111,690 
			 1996 108,840 
			 1997 108,810 
			 1998 109,830 
			 1999 109,720 
			 2000 110,050 
			 2001 109,530 
			 2002 110,050 
			 2003 112,130 
			 2004 112,750 
			 2005 109,290 
			 2006 107,730 
			  Notes:  1. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in the nearest multiple of 5 have been rounded to 20 to prevent systematic bias.  2. The figures in the table are the latest published version available. Over the period 1982-2006 it is possible that these figures have subsequently been revised and also that definitions of strength have changed slightly. UK regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.

Departmental Contracts: Scotland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the value was of his Department's new-build contracts placed with Scottish facilities in each year since 1995;
	(2)  what the value was of his Department's maintenance contracts placed with Scottish facilities in each year since 1995.

Derek Twigg: The information requested will take a little time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Official Documents

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will place in the Library the documents referred to in the answers of  (a) 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1558W, on price indices,  (b) 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1482W, on the negotiators briefing pack and  (c) 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1551W, on downgrading reports.

Derek Twigg: The documents relating to price indices and the negotiators briefing pack were placed in the Library of the House on 12 January 2007. The downgrading reports were placed in the Library of the House on 17 January.

Projects

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of  (a) Project SLAM and  (b) Project Allenby/Connaught in each year of the contract.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 16 January 2007
	Expenditure on Phase 1 of the Single Living Accommodation Modernisation Project (Project SLAM) over the period of the contract is set out in the following table. In addition to providing details of expenditure approved as part of the original SLAM programme the table also sets out expenditure in support of projects separately funded by the services but delivered through Project SLAM.
	
		
			   million 
			   SLAM programme  Separately funded  Total 
			 2002-03 1.0  1.0 
			 2003-04 67.7  67.7 
			 2004-05 116.9 4.0 120.9 
			 2005-06 108.3 42.7 151.0 
			 2006-07(1) 87.3 44.2 131.5 
			 (1) Forecast. 
		
	
	Further funding of around 100 million (excluding projects separately funded by the services) has been allocated to SLAM in FY 2007-08 for completion of the Phase 1 programme. Phase 2 of SLAM has been approved with funding of 335 million over the five years 2008-09 to 2012-13 for the delivery of up to a further 3,800 bed spaces.
	The contract for Project Allenby/Connaught was awarded in March 2006 and the forecast of expenditure from contract comment to 31 March 2007 is 83.2 million.

Security Threats

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the specific security threats that will be facing the UK between 2020 and 2050; what form he expects them to take; from which country or countries he expects them to come; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The 2003 Defence White Paper: Delivering Security in a Changing World described the nature of the security challenges facing the United Kingdom and the defence response to them. The paper highlighted the complex and inter-related threats posed by international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the range of risks associated with weak and failing states. We expect these to remain the security priorities for the UK. However, we also recognise that there are a number of pressures which may complicate or exacerbate this picture up to and beyond 2020, and that unexpected strategic shocks might also alter these priorities. We have therefore developed balanced and flexible armed forces which are able to respond to the inherent uncertainty of the future. This assessment informed the recent White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994), published on 4 December 2006.

Senior Officers: Transport

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Major General Tim Cross has used his Department's  (a) road,  (b) sea and  (c) air transport on personal business over the last three years.

Adam Ingram: Major General Tim Cross has not used his Department's road, sea or air transport for his personal use.

Service Accommodation

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much Defence Estates allocated for improvements to service families' accommodation at Blandford Camp in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006; and how much has been allocated for 2007.

Derek Twigg: The information requested will take a little time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Advertising

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on advertising with  The Guardian newspaper, including online, advertorials and advertising features, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The DTI spent 17,541.73 on advertising with  The Guardian in the year 2005-06. The figure does not include advertising purchased by recruitment and other agencies acting for the Department, figures for which could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Bioenergy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition his Department uses of  (a) biomass,  (b) biofuels and  (c) bioenergy; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Biomass is a shorthand for biological mass. This is a broad term, used to cover both biofuels and bioenergy sources.
	Biofuels can be any fuels used to produce bioenergy, but tends to be more commonly used to refer to biologically derived fuels for transport uses e.g. biodiesel and bioethanol. Bioenergy can refer to any energy derived from biomass or biofuels but is more commonly used for heat and power generated from biomass.
	In the Government response to the Biomass Task Force (link below) bioenergy is defined as 'biomass derived from energy crops such as short-rotation coppice and miscanthus forestry and agricultural plant and animal wastes. It can be used to generate Electricity and/or heat and to produce transport fuel.'
	In Table 7.7 of the Renewables chapter of the DTI's Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKESlink below) the term Biofuels is used as a heading (other headings used are Wind, Solar photovoltaics Geothermal aquifers and Hydro) to cover
	Landfill gas
	Sewage sludge digestion
	Wood combustiondomestic and industrial
	Municipal solid waste combustion
	Co-firing with fossil fuels
	Other biofuels include, but are not restricted to, farm waste digestion, poultry litter, combustion, meat and bone combustion, straw, and energy crops.
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/defrasearch/index.jsp?query=Biomass+Task+Force
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page29812.html

Consultants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which 10 consultancy fees charged to his Department since May 1997 were the most expensive.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Central figures on consultancy spend are not readily available before 2003. Central records indicate that the top 10 recipients of consultancy payments by value from financial year 2003-04 to date are:
	
		
			
			 Deloitte  Touche LLP 9,460,302 
			 Serco Ltd. 8,434,949 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 3,953,508 
			 Fujitsu Services Ltd. 3,670,302 
			 Amey Business Services Ltd. 3,525,515 
			 Hedra Consortium 1,994,190 
			 KPMG LLP 1,587,439 
			 Herbert Smith 1,540,350 
			 Qinetiq Ltd. 1,512,848 
		
	
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of expenditure by his Department in each of the Government Office regions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is shown on pages 178 to 181 (Annexes A7, A8 and A9) of DTI's 'Departmental Report 2006' (Cm 6826).

Doha Round

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees of UK Trade and Investment work in Mercosur countries; and what the projected staffing level is  (a) in six months and  (b) at the beginning of 2008.

Ian McCartney: There are currently 73.5 UK Trade and Investment staff working in the Mercosur countries. The following table highlights the allocation of staff in the markets that have full and associate membership of Mercosur over the next two years. This is, however, subject to regular reviews and staffing levels will depend on operational requirements and available resources.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Brazil 38 41 41 
			 Argentina 7.8 7.8 7.8 
			 Paraguay 0 0 0 
			 Uruguay 1.9 1.9 0 
			 Venezuela 5.0 5.0 5.0 
			 Bolivia 2.2 2.2 2.2 
			 Peru 4.6 4.6 4.6 
			 Colombia 4.4 4.4 3.4 
			 Ecuador 3.4 3.4 3.4 
			 Chile 6.2 6.2 6.2 
			 Total 73.5 76.5 73.6

East of England Tourist Board

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the East of England Development Agency has provided additional funding to the East of England Tourist Board for  (a) the latter half of 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Margaret Hodge: A budget of 1 million for 2006-07 and 1 million for 2007-08 was agreed by the EEDA Boards to fund the activities of the new EETB. No additional funding has been given in 2006-07 and additional funding has neither been requested nor agreed for 2007-08.

Employee Compensation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times the Department has been sued by employees since 2001; on how many occasions cases have been referred to ACAS in the same period; and how much the Department has spent on compensation in such cases in each category.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of Employment Tribunal cases against the Department is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of employment tribunal cases  Compensation (000) 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 
			 2003 1 0 
			 2004 1 8.5 
			 2005 4 0 
			 2006 4 12 
		
	
	No cases were referred to ACAS during this period.

Energy Market

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps  (a) his Department and  (b) Ofgem have taken to support small businesses in the energy market.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI and the Small Business Service provide advice to small businesses across all sectors, including Energy, through the Business Link network. Small business consumers are encouraged to approach their local Business Link to find out what information and support is available in their region.
	In respect of support in the energy market, in November 2005, DTI and Energywatch organised the SME/Public Sector Seminar to spread best practice. Ofgem organises a Small and Medium User Group and a Non-domestic Review Group to provide practical advice and information for small businesses. This group enables consumer representative bodies and trade associations to meet energy suppliers to discuss practical steps to help make energy contracts more user-friendly and to help improve customers' understanding of contracts. Ofgem is also currently exploring with Energywatch, the statutory gas and electricity consumer body, the possibility of conducting a Business Customer Satisfaction survey in the near future.

Energy Supplies

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the merits of introducing a cooling-off period in small business energy contracts similar to that provided to domestic customers.

Malcolm Wicks: The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, including supply to business sector. It is open to Ofgem to consider whether additional regulatory protection, including the introduction of a cooling-off period, is required.

Energy Supplies

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requirement there is on energy suppliers to notify their small business customers prior to automatically renewing their supply contract.

Malcolm Wicks: Renewal arrangements are a contractual matter between the supplier and the customer. Small businesses that have been unable to resolve complaints with their supplier may seek assistance from the statutory consumer body, Energywatch.

Energy Supplies

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has assessed the impact on small businesses of poor billing by energy suppliers.

Malcolm Wicks: Billing arrangements are a contractual matter between the supplier and the customer. Ofgem is responsible for overseeing the performance of suppliers, and decides what appropriate regulatory action is to be taken should a supplier fail to meet its obligations.
	The issue of gas and electricity metering and billing is also the subject of a consultation as part of the Energy Review. The consultation closes on 6 February.

Energy Supplies

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will discuss with Ofgem providing small businesses with a level of protection similar to that afforded to domestic customers in respect of energy supplies through  (a) industry codes of practice,  (b) ombudsmen schemes and  (c) a requirement on suppliers that consumers should have as long to pay back any debt as the time over which the debt has accrued.

Malcolm Wicks: The level of regulatory protection in respect of gas and electricity broadly reflects that in general consumer law. Ministers discuss general regulatory approaches with Ofgem, but it is for Ofgem to decide whether the level of regulatory protection in any particular area is sufficient.

Energy Supplies

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the level of competition in the retail energy market for small business consumers; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for the regulation of the gas and electricity market. It is open to Ofgem to consider the level of competition within the market, and to take further appropriate action in the light of that consideration.

Light Bulbs

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support is available to companies manufacturing energy-efficient light bulbs in the United Kingdom.

Margaret Hodge: The Government remain fully committed to raising product standards and encouraging consumers to use the most energy-efficient domestic appliances available.
	The Government have put in place a comprehensive package of policies and measures to drive an increase in energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy. Within this programme, we are working hard to encourage the take up of low-energy light bulbs as widely as possible, including through the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC)an obligation on energy suppliers to promote improvements in household energy efficiency. Under the first three-year phase of EEC to 2005, around 30 million compact fluorescent light bulbs were distributed, and this number is expected to rise to over 40 million during the current three-year phase to 2008.
	The Government's Market Transformation programme (MTP) supports measures such as the mandatory EU energy labelling scheme which, for domestic light bulbs, has been mandatory since 1 January 2001. Energy labels provide clear and easily recognisable information about the energy- consumption and performance of domestic products on a 7-point scale ranging from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), thus enabling consumers to make a considered choice when purchasing energy- consuming products. Furthermore, minimum energy performance standards have resulted in the removal of the most inefficient fluorescent lamp ballasts from the market. (Lamp ballasts are required to control the current passing through fluorescent discharge tubes, which dissipate energy and can affect the light output efficiency of the fluorescent tube itself).
	MTP also works with the Lighting Association, the Lighting Industry Federation, the Energy Saving Trust and Energy Efficiency Partnership, to promote energy- efficient lighting which is both commercially viable and acceptable to consumers. The Energy Saving Trust endorses and vigorously promotes the best lighting products under its energy efficiency recommended scheme and building regulations require new housing to have a minimum number of energy-efficient fittings.
	Looking to the future, we can expect further advances in lighting technologies including, for example, solid-state LEDs which have the potential to provide high-efficiency, low-cost and long-life alternatives for a range of ordinary, decorative and reflector bulbs. We hope this will then lead to acceptable and affordable energy-efficient alternatives across the whole range of lighting products.

Mining Industry Claims

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many declarations of corporate hospitality, including hotel meals from companies and others involved in coal health claims, have been made by departmental staff in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: 45 declarations of hospitality have been made since June 2001 to December 2006 by staff involved in coal health claims. See following table for a breakdown of this figure. We do not have records of hospitality prior to June 2001.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 2 
			 2002 10 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 3 
			 2006 17

Orangutan Habitat: Palm Oil

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with other EU member states on the sources of palm oil imported into Europe, with particular reference to the habitat of the orangutan;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with  (a) UK supermarkets,  (b) ministerial colleagues and  (c) others on the sourcing of palm oil imported into the UK and its effect upon the habitat of the orangutan.

Ian McCartney: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have held any such discussions.

Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1610W, on the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003, which were the companies concerned in the four instances of successful prosecutions under the Regulations; what products were involved in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The four companies stated in my earlier reply which were prosecuted for failing to comply with the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations were:
	Nadia Luciani (trading as L'Aquila Importers and Distributors). This prosecution involved the packaging of tinned mushroom powder;
	Barry Brazier Limited (trading as Clays Butchers) concerning prepacked meat;
	Office World. This involved the packaging of office products, dispatched after the receipt of an internet order; and
	Burton's Foods Ltd. concerning the packaging for biscuits.
	These cases were brought by local Trading Standards Officers based in local authorities; one case by Oldham borough council, two by Northamptonshire county council and one by Cambridgeshire county council.

Post Office Card Accounts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new Post Office card accounts were opened in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office Facilities: Bingley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of post office facilities in Bingley.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Post Office Ltd. (POL) is directly responsible for matters relating to the operations of a network of post offices in any given area around the country. I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many responses his Department has received to the Post Office Network Consultation from each region; and how many of those responses were sent in by email.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As of the 18 January 2007, the Department has received 42 responses to the Post Office Network Consultation. 10 of the responses were submitted electronically.
	The breakdown by region is as follows:
	
		
			  Regions  Number 
			 East England 1 
			 Midlands 7 
			 North England 3 
			 Scotland 20 
			 South East England 3 
			 South West England 6 
			 Wales 2

Post Offices

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question the hon. Member has asked relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. (POL) is directly responsible. The company has provided the following figures relating to the numbers of post office branches in the constituency:
	
		
			  Eastbourne constituency 
			   Number of open Post Office branches 
			 2001-02 22 
			 2002-03 22 
			 2003-04 17 
			 2004-05 16 
			 2005-06 17 
		
	
	This information commenced from the end of 2002; data by constituency is not available prior to this. The information is placed in, and is available from, the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new post offices were opened in each of the last 10 years; and how many closed post offices were reopened.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question the hon. Member has asked relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. (POL) is directly responsible. The company has provided the figures relating to the numbers of Post Office branches.
	The historical information that is available on the network of Post Office branches is the number of open Post Office branches on an annual basis.
	
		
			   Total number of open Post Office branches 
			 1996-97 19,251 
			 1997-98 19,008 
			 1998-99 18,775 
			 1999-2000 18,393 
			 2000-01 17,846 
			 2001-02 17,584 
			 2002-03 17,239 
			 2003-04 15,961 
			 2004-05 14,609 
			 2005-06 14,376

Post Offices

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the programme of post office closures on  (a) the Scottish economy and  (b) the economy of Perth and Kinross.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No assessment can be made of the economic impact of post office closures on the Scottish economy and of Perth and Kinross before local area implementation plans have been developed by Post Office Ltd following the Government's final decisions after National Public Consultation.

Post Offices

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the likely cost to small and medium-sized businesses of the programme of post office closures.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government provide support for the Post Office network on the basis of the valuable social and economic role that many offices are seen to play. Proposals for the network include continued funding for this role and comprehensive access criteria to maintain a national network. In developing these proposals, the Government have looked at the wide range of research from Postcomm, Postwatch, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and others, but have not undertaken a separate estimate of costs to small and medium-sized businesses.
	A public consultantion was announced on 14 December 2006, which will conclude on 8 March 2007.

Post Offices

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of his programme of post office closures.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No specific assessment has been made, but the number of wholly additional or extended motor vehicle journeys is not expected to be great, given the proposed access criteria, which specifically address access to post offices in rural and remote areas.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the projected  (a) total budget and  (b) administration costs of each regional development agency is for 2007-08.

Margaret Hodge: The table shows the indicative total RDA grant in aid budget for each Regional Development Agency and their projected administration costs for 2007-08.
	Administrative budgets include resources for staff involved in both policy and delivery as well as back office functions.
	
		
			  RDA total budget and administration budget for 2007-08 
			   million 
			   Total budget  Administration budget 
			 Advantage West Midlands 291 20 
			 East of England Development Agency 138 11 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 167 16 
			 London Development Agency 400 28 
			 North West Development Agency 409 38 
			 One North East 258 22 
			 South East Development Agency 167 20 
			 South West Development Agency 164 22 
			 Yorkshire Forward 316 19

Regional Funding

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the South East England Development Agency spent in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The table shows the South East England Development Agency's (SEEDA) annual spend for 2005-06, broken down to a sub-regional level.
	SEEDA does not provide expenditure breakdowns on the basis of all counties and unitary authorities within the region. Much of SEEDA's spend is allocated across administrative boundaries, and this cannot be disaggregated to local authority boundary levels.
	
		
			  Sub-region  Spend 2005-06 () 
			 Berkshire unitary authorities 4,247,471.04 
			 Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes 1,867,303.21 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 22,174,844.97 
			 Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight 38,236,206.41 
			 Kent and Medway 36,545,375.53 
			 Oxfordshire 5,564,708.01 
			 Surrey 4,376,371.19 
			 West Sussex 8,630,872.87 
			 Regionwide and Cross Region 36,996,847.49 
			 Total 158,640,000.72

Rubber Bands: Post Office

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Post Office has to recycle rubber bands; and what his estimate is of the number used each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

S-band Spectrum

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how he plans to optimise the use of the S-band spectrum which is now available for public safety;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to ensure that the S-band spectrum available for public safety in the UK will be used by entities capable of fully exploiting its value to the public;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on legacy claims on parts of the S-band spectrum.

Margaret Hodge: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Smart Metering

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to promote the installation of smart electricity meters in private homes.

Malcolm Wicks: Metering in both the domestic and business gas and electricity markets, including smart metering, is currently the subject of public consultation as part of the Energy Review. The Government will take any further decisions in this area following their consideration of the responses to this consultation and further discussion with a range of interested parties.

Smart Metering

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with suppliers about the minimum level of functionality of smart metering systems.

Malcolm Wicks: Gas and electricity suppliers are currently discussing the inter-operability of smart metering systems, including levels of functionality. In light of this work, and similar discussions by other industry groups, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), which is responsible for gas and electricity regulation, has established a Metering Inter-operability Steering Group to oversee the development of inter-operability arrangements to promote and support the introduction of smart metering. This group gives the industry as a whole the opportunity to manage the process and reach collective, consistent decisions.

Solar Panels

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has made available for the installation of solar panels in the West Country in the last three years; what provision the Government will be making in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The Government have provided financial support for the installation of solar panels through the Solar PV Major Demonstration and Low-Carbon Buildings programmes. Details of grant payments made in the south-west region over the past three years are as follows.
	
		
			   Grants paid () 
			  Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme  
			 2004-05 358,439 
			 2005-06 877,401 
			 2006-07(1) 849,892 
			   
			  Low-Carbon Buildings Programme  
			 2006-07 87,167 
			 (1 )Scheme closure 31 March 2007. 
		
	
	The Low-Carbon Buildings programme is a national programme, and as a result, does not make grant provision for a specific region going forward.

Solar Panels

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants were made available by his Department for the installation of solar panels in each of the last three years; and how many solar panels were installed in each region in the UK where Government grants were available.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The Government have provided financial support for the installation of solar panels through the Solar PV Major Demonstration and Low-Carbon Buildings Programmes. Details of grant payments made in each of the past three financial years are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme 
			   
			  Region  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 East Midlands 86,332 257,612 178,897 
			 Eastern 458,436 175,723 157,127 
			 London 199,669 552,799 347,289 
			 North East 62,640 196,634 67,501 
			 North West 154,678 312,549 367,697 
			 Northern Ireland 220,699 423,880 251,422 
			 Scotland 103,561 107,316 103,230 
			 South East 658,904 1,134,619 826,148 
			 South West 358,439 877,401 849,892 
			 Wales 107,286 300,728 271,551 
			 West Midlands 72,781 273,786 126,477 
			 Yorkshire/Humberside 92,408 172,439 247,623 
			 Total 2,575,833 4,785,486 3,794,854 
		
	
	
		
			  Low-Carbon Buildings Programme 
			  Region  2006-07 () 
			 East Midlands 28,105 
			 Eastern 103,403 
			 London 94,654 
			 North East 3,600 
			 North West 27,340 
			 Northern Ireland 8,400 
			 Scotland 33,730 
			 South East 286,422 
			 South West 87,167 
			 Wales 29,449 
			 West Midlands 50,236 
			 Yorkshire/Humberside 43,615 
			 Total 796,121

Solar Panels

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the installation of solar panels in the West Country.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The Low-Carbon Buildings Programme was launched in April 2006, and has a budget of 80 million to be allocated over three years. The scheme supports the installation of microgeneration technologies across the UK, including solar panels.
	The Government published the Microgeneration Strategy in March 2006. This includes a number of policy commitments to encourage deployment of microgeneration technologies. Further information can be found at:
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/strategy/page27594.html

Spectrum Packages Auction

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how radio microphone users in  (a) schools,  (b) education establishments and  (c) places of worship and their analogue equipment will be facilitated following the auction of the spectrum packages (i) before the 2012 Olympics and (ii) post 2012; what estimate he has made of the additional costs which will be incurred by these users; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how radio microphone users in the (a) conference and meetings and  (b) light entertainment industries and their analogue equipment will be facilitated following the auction of the spectrum packages (i) before the 2012 Olympics and (ii) post 2012; what estimate he has made of additional costs which will be incurred by these users; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how radio microphone users of analogue equipment who are  (a) in opera and musical shows,  (b) bands and  (c) singers and other musicians will be facilitated following the auction of the spectrum packages (i) before the 2012 Olympics and (ii) post 2012; what estimate he has made of the additional costs that will be incurred by these groups, including (A) costs of licences and (B) replacement of analogue equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The matters raised are the responsibility of the regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to my hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Start-up Businesses

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many high-growth start-up businesses there were in each region and county in each year between 1994 and 2001; and what percentage of all businesses they represented.

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the number of high-growth start-ups in the UK that registered for value added tax (VAT) in each year from 1994 to 2001, the total number of VAT registrations in each year (both rounded to the nearest 100) and the percentage of all VAT registrations that were high- growth start-ups. VAT registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups.
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million businesses (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2005.
	
		
			  High-growth start-ups( 1)  registering for VAT, total start-ups and percentage of VAT registrations that were high growth, by year of VAT registration 1994-2001 
			   High-growth start-up registrations  Total VAT registrations  Percentage high- growth start-ups 
			 1994 12,300 166,900 7.4 
			 1995 11,800 161,800 7.3 
			 1996 11,100 166,100 6.7 
			 1997 12,200 182,700 6.7 
			 1998 12,200 182,200 6.7 
			 1999 12,300 176,900 7.0 
			 2000 13,400 178,900 7.5 
			 2001 12,900 170,000 7.6 
			 (1) VAT registered firms with a turnover of over 1 million and/or 10 or more employees four years after registering for VAT.  Sources: DTI Autumn Performance Report 2006, available from http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file36067.pdf; SBS Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005, available from www.sbs.gov.uk/vat and the Libraries of the House 
		
	
	A breakdown of these figures by region and county could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Start-up Businesses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many high-growth start-up businesses there were in the Lancashire region in each year between 1994 and 2001; and what percentage they represented of all businesses.

Margaret Hodge: No estimates have been made of the number of high-growth start-ups at regional or county level. This question can only be answered at disproportionate cost.

Sub-post Offices

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the business opportunities for sub post offices.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The Government have been working closely with Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd. to ensure that it is able to deliver high-quality services that customers want. This included 500 million investment in Horizon enabling the Post Office to develop its financial service businesses by opening up its counters to up to 20 million bank customers and becoming the UK's leading provider of foreign exchange services.
	The vast majority of post offices are private businesses which are also able to pursue their own commercial interests.

Waste-to-Energy Incinerators

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many waste-to-energy incinerators have been built in the UK; and where they are located.

Malcolm Wicks: Latest available information is that there were 23 plants generating electricity from municipal solid waste in Great Britain. They are located in the following local authority areas:
	Basingstoke and Deane
	Birmingham
	Bolton
	Coventry (two sites)
	Dudley
	Dundee City
	Enfield
	Isle of Wight
	Kirklees
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
	New Forest
	Newport (Gwent)
	Nottingham
	Portsmouth
	Sheffield
	Shetland
	Slough
	Southampton
	Southwark
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Wolverhampton

World Trade Organisation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made on the candidacy of Laos for membership of the World Trade Organisation.

Ian McCartney: To date, no public representations have been made by the Government in relation to the accession to the WTO of the Laos, which is in its early stages.
	The Government fully support the accession of Laos, on the right terms, and are encouraged by recent attempts there to move the process forward.
	Laos is receiving some UK-funded technical assistance via the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Accessions Trust Fund. UNCTAD provides advice and support on the accession process including the preparation of documents, and training for negotiators.

TREASURY

Births and Deaths

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) births and  (b) deaths there were in Chorley constituency in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) births and (b) deaths there were in Chorley constituency in each year since 1997.
	The table below provides the number of (a) births and (b) deaths in Chorley parliamentary constituency for the years 1997 to 2005 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Births( 1)  and deaths( 2)  in Chorley parliamentary constituency( 3)  1997 to 2005 
			  Number 
			   Births  Deaths 
			 1997 1,057 1,060 
			 1998 1,114 994 
			 1999 1,070 1,018 
			 2000 1,047 1,079 
			 2001 1,009 1,006 
			 2002 1,035 1,025 
			 2003 1,103 1,022 
			 2004 1,239 1,012 
			 2005 1,177 982 
			 (1 )Live births occurring in each year. (2 )Deaths registered in each year. (3 )Using boundaries as of 2006 for all years shown.

Cancer Treatment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency were diagnosed with breast cancer in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many people were diagnosed with breast cancer in each of the last five years in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the years 2005 (Wales), 2004 (England, Northern Ireland) and 2003 (Scotland). The following table therefore provides numbers of cases of female breast cancer for the years 1999 to 2003 for the UK and for the years 1999 to 2004 for the other areas requested (North East Government Office Region (GQR), County Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority (SHA) and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency (PC)).
	
		
			  Numbers of newly diagnosed cases of female breast cancer( 1)  for the UK, North East GOR( 2) , County Durham and Tees Valley SHA and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland PC, 1999-2004 
			   1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 UK 42,099 41,282 41,759 41,803 43,907  
			 North East GOR 1,666 1,663 1,715 1,696 1,892 1,960 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 737 747 777 782 829 844 
			 Middlesbrough South and East   
			 Cleveland PC 59 62 81 77 69 85 
			 (1) Breast cancer is defined as code C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10).  (2) Figures for North East GOR for the years 2000-2004 are available in Table 4 of the Annual Reference Volume, Cancer statistics: Registrations, Series MB1.   Sources:  Office for National Statistics, Welsh Cancer Intelligence Surveillance Unit, Scottish Cancer Registry ISD and Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.

Cancer Treatment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage survival rate was for people diagnosed with  (a) lung,  (b) breast,  (c) prostate,  (d) skin,  (e) testicular,  (f) cervical and  (g) bowel cancer in each English region in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnel, dated 22( ) January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the percentage survival rate was for people diagnosed with (a) lung, (b) breast, (c) prostate, (d) skin, (e) testicular, (f) cervical and (g) bowel cancers in each English region in each year since 1997.
	The latest available regional survival rates are for patients diagnosed in 1997-1999 and followed up to the end of 2004. One- and five-year survival rates by Government Office Region and Strategic Health Authority for lung, breast (female), prostate, cervix and colon cancers can be found at the following address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/SurvivalRatesbySHA2004Data.xls
	Survival rates are not available by region for cancers of the skin and testis.

Consultants

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the consultants identified on page 107 of his 2006 departmental report; what work they undertook; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: One part of the domestic efficiency programme Office of Government Commerce, described on page 107 of the 2006 Treasury departmental report, is the more efficient use of consultants. The target gain for this part of the programme is 1.5 million by March 2008. Sustainable savings have already been made on reduced consultancy spend on OGC's legacy work instigated pre-2005-06 and on corporate services.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 27 November 2006 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Stephen Hawthorn, to which a holding acknowledgement was sent on 30 November 2006 by HM Revenue and Customs.

Dawn Primarolo: A reply was sent from the Tax Credit Office on 19 January, I have asked for an explanation for the delay.

EU: Imports and Exports

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the UK  (a) exported to and  (b) imported from the European Union in (i) goods and (ii) services in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the balance of trade with the EU was in each year since 1976.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how much the UK (a) exported to and (b) imported from the European Union in (i) goods and (ii) services in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and what the balance of trade with the EU was in each year since 1976. (116494)
	
		
			  Exports to and imports from the EU 
			   billion 
			   Exports  Imports  
			   Goods  Services  Goods  Services  Balance 
			 1999 101.2 29.6 109.3 31.9 -10.4 
			 2000 112.0 32.9 117.2 34.7 -7.2 
			 2001 113.9 35.4 126.4 37.0 -14.1 
			 2002 114.1 36.6 136.3 38.8 -24.3 
			 2003 110.6 39.5 136.6 41.8 -28.3 
			 2004 110.9 44.0 141.6 43.7 -30.5 
			 2005 120.6 47.4 157.5 48.1 -37.5 
			 Latest 4 quarters 148.9 49.6 188.7 49.3 -39.4 
			  Source: ONS Balance of Payments 
		
	
	The information shown in the above table is taken from Table C of the quarterly Balance of Payments First Release. Data shown are consistent with the 2006 Q3 release published on 21 December 2006.
	The ONS does not compile monthly estimates of trade in services with the EU. Therefore, the table shows the sum of the most recent four quarters e.g. 2005 Q4 to 2006 Q3.
	Estimates of trade in goods and services with the EU are only available from 1999.

Gender Equality

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that all Departments receive guidance on how to implement the gender equality duty with the guidance issued to Departments for the comprehensive spending review 2007;
	(2)  what role his Department will play in promoting the gender equality duty to other Government Departments as part of the public service agreement process; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Government will use the 2007 comprehensive spending review (CSR) to pursue its long-term goal of ensuring fairness and opportunity for all, which will be reflected in both the allocation of resources and the setting of new public service agreements (PSAs) for the CSR07 period.
	To support this aim, the Treasury guidance to Departments on the CSR process and PSAs underlines their statutory responsibilities under the equality duties, and refers them to the detailed information on implementing the Gender Equality Duty published by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

HM Revenue and Customs

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many flights were made by HM Revenue and Customs managers to  (a) Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 18 January 2007
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was created in April 2005, and incorporates the former departments of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
	
		
			   Number of flights 
			  2006  
			 Wales 549 
			 Scotland 12,842 
			 Northern Ireland 5,298 
			   
			  2005  
			 Wales 280 
			 Scotland 11,405 
			 Northern Ireland 4,518 
		
	
	Last year HMRC joined the Government's carbon offsetting scheme for air travel and is planning to extend its offsetting arrangements to all travel by 2008. The Department promotes sustainable travel policies and the use of telephone and video conferencing as travel alternatives.

Household Numbers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Office for National Statistics has made of the difference in the estimated number of households in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland,  (d) Northern Ireland and  (e) each Government office for the regions in England on the basis of (i) the figures provided by the 2001 census and (ii) the number of domestic dwellings on council tax/domestic rates valuation lists.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Office for National Statistics has made of the difference in the estimated number of households in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) each Government Office for the Regions in England on the basis of (i) the figures provided by the 2001 Census and (ii) the number of domestic dwellings on council tax/domestic rates valuation lists. (114367).
	I can confirm that ONS has not made such an assessment.

KPMG

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid to KPMG  (a) for work as internal auditors of the Office of Government Commerce and  (b) for the full review of the Efficiency Programme.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 January 2007
	The Office of Government Commerce has not engaged KPMG as internal auditors. There has been no KPMG review of the Efficiency Programme.
	The Office of Government Commerce's Efficiency Team has however spent 76,752 with KPMG on consulting and interim management on the Efficiency Programme Performance Management System (EPPMS) in the current financial year.

Lean Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid to Unipart for the Lean programme by his Department and its agencies.

Dawn Primarolo: The total amount spent to date since this contract began in December 2005 is 9.9 million. The contract requires Unipart experts to work alongside HMRC staff. The majority of this expenditure has gone on ensuring that skills are effectively transferred.

Population Statistics: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) births and  (b) deaths there were in Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many  (a) births and  (b) deaths there were in Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997. (116566)
	The table below provides the number of  (a) births and  (b) deaths in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency for the years 1997 to 2005 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Births( 1)  and deaths( 2)  in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency( 3) , 1997 to 2005 
			  Number 
			   Births  Deaths 
			 1997 967 1,469 
			 1998 933 1,419 
			 1999 869 1,402 
			 2000 860 1,413 
			 2001 892 1,422 
			 2002 853 1,416 
			 2003 988 1,351 
			 2004 989 1,336 
			 2005 968 1,367 
			 (1) Live births occurring in each year. (2) Deaths registered in each year. (3 )Using boundaries as of 2005 for all years shown.

Procurement Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 20 largest procurement projects initiated by his Department since May 1997 have been; what the  (a) original budget,  (b) cost to date and  (c) consultancy fees have been; and what the final cost was of each project which has been completed.

John Healey: The information requested is not available in the format required to answer the question, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Public Opinion Research

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on commissioning public opinion research in each of the last five years for which records are available.

John Healey: I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois) on 4 December 2006,  Official Report, column 196W, and on 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1383W, and to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 15 December 2005,  Official Report, column 2265W. The cost to the Treasury of the joint poll for the Treasury and the Sutton Trust was 10,000. The joint survey with the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the Lyons inquiry was commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Spending on public opinion research is not recorded as a separate category in the Treasury's accounting system, so further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Red Box Website

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Red Box hard copy teaching packs have been  (a) produced and  (b) distributed by (i) his Department and (ii) HM Revenue and Customs.

John Healey: The number of Red Box teaching packs produced and distributed was as follows:
	 (a) The number produced: 8,100
	 (b) The number distributed by HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury: 7,368

Rockall

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many oil and gas reserves previously under UK jurisdiction are outside UK territorial waters following the cessation of sovereignty of Rockall; and what the estimated value is of these reserves.

John Healey: The Treasury is not responsible for this matter.
	However, I understand that there has been no cessation of sovereignty over Rockall.

Special Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2006,  Official Report, column 209W, on special advisers, on what date the donations for the  (a) tickets and  (b) DVDs were made to the respective charities.

John Healey: Donations were made on 21 June 2005 and 6 July 2005 with respect to the tickets received. Our records do not show the exact date on which the DVDs were donated, although they indicate it was in the month of January 2006.

VAT Registration

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Aardvark Traffic Management Services of Worksop will obtain VAT registration following their November 2006 application.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 19 January 2007
	HMRC has a responsibility to balance efficient processing of applications with rigorous, risk-based safeguards. HMRC aims to process VAT applications quickly and efficientlyhowever, where necessary, additional checks can take time. It is therefore not possible to estimate how long any specific application for VAT registration will take.

HEALTH

A Stronger Local Voice

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of submissions her Department received in response to the document A Stronger Local Voice.

Rosie Winterton: The Government response to A Stronger Local Voice, published on the 11 December 2006, summarises the key themes and issues that were raised in the submissions we received to A Stronger Local Voice. Once all submissions were received a rigorous process of analysis was undertaken to ensure all views, ideas and opinions were recorded and taken into account. It is not appropriate to publish the submissions themselves as many of these contain the views and experiences of individuals who may not wish their submissions to be made public.

Abortion

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the average waiting time for an abortion was in each  (a) primary care trust and  (b) hospital trust in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Waiting times for abortion are not available as the majority of procedures take place in the independent sector, but we consider that gestation at procedure is a good indicator of waiting times. The latest data for 2005 show that progress is being made to increase early access: 64 per cent. of national health service-funded abortions took place at under 10 weekscompared with 51 per cent. in 2002.
	The earlier in pregnancy an abortion is performed, the lower the risk of complications. The Government are therefore working to ensure that women have access to abortion services as soon as possible. We have invested 8 million to improve early access and set a standard of a maximum waiting time of 3 weeks. Also, primary care trusts' performance in this area is being measured as part of their annual healthcheck.

Abortion

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions took place in each month since the year 2000, broken down by  (a) primary care trust and  (b) hospital trust; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Abortion data by primary care trust (PCT) of residence for 2002 to 2005 have been placed in the Library.
	Data are not released by place of termination for reasons of confidentiality. In addition, data by PCT are not available prior to 2002.

Alzheimer's

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the number of patients in the  (a) early and  (b) late stages of Alzheimer's disease who will be affected by the recommendations set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease; and how many such patients there are estimated to be in each primary care trust.

Ivan Lewis: We have made no such estimate.

Alzheimer's

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's guidelines on Alzheimer's drugs treatment for patients in the intermediate stage of Alzheimer's disease do not have an adverse effect on older people's mental health services.

Ivan Lewis: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guidelines on dementia will be very important in supporting improved standards of health and social care for people with dementia, including those with moderate Alzheimer's disease and their families. The Department's programme to develop older people's mental health services will seek to ensure that all older people with dementia receive appropriate treatments.

Alzheimer's

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that primary care trusts provide funding to enable clinicians to prescribe the most effective drug treatments available to patients with Alzheimer's disease who may benefit.

Ivan Lewis: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the most clinically and cost-effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease to the national health service on 22 November 2006.
	NICE technology appraisals are covered by a three-month funding direction. Primary care trusts have a legal obligation to provide funding for treatments recommended by NICE within three months of the guidance being issued.

Benefit Claimants

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are issued by her Department to GPs on the presence or absence of claimants when writing disability living allowance and incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	GPs complete reports containing clinical information in relation to their patients' claims to incapacity benefit and disability living allowance. GPs are expected to be able to complete these reports based on the information contained in the patient's clinical record and the doctor's knowledge of the patient. It is not necessary to conduct a separate examination to complete these forms and the patient therefore does not need to be present while the report is completed.
	This information is provided to GPs in 'IB 204: A guide for registered medical practitioners' which has been issued to all medical practitioners who have direct patient contact.

Burial Places

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to promote the provision of burial places in and around Greater London for use by Islamic communities;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of burial places available in Greater London.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	Provision of burial space is a matter for individual boroughs to decide, including how much space should be set aside for the use of Islamic or other faith communities. The Department's recent guide for burial ground managers recommended seeking the requirements of local faith communities as a matter of good practice.
	The returns received in response to the recent burial ground survey of England and Wales are expected to provide an indication of available burial space in London once analysis has been completed. A detailed survey of the position in London was carried out in 1997 by the London Planning Advisory Committee.

Capture, Assess, Treat and Support Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected  (a) set-up costs and  (b) total first- year costs are of the capture, assess, treat and support service in the South Lancashire area.

Ivan Lewis: The provision of the capture, assess, treat and support service in the South Lancashire area is the subject of ongoing commercial negotiations. Information on set-up and total first-year costs is commercially sensitive.

Community Hospitals

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 750 million she made available for capital spending on community hospitals has been drawn down; and by which organisations.

Andy Burnham: To date 44.5 million has been allocated to four primary care trusts (PCTs) . The schemes that we are funding are:
	the Washington Primary Care Centre, Sunderland PCT;
	Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Hampshire PCT ;
	the Yate Community Health Centre, South Gloucestershire PCT; and
	the West Somerset Healthy Living Park, Somerset PCT.
	Arrangements are being made for the funds to be drawn down.

Community Hospitals

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she makes the final decision on the closure of community hospitals and cottage hospitals; and what record is kept of such decisions.

Andy Burnham: Decisions on national health service reconfigurations are taken by local NHS organisations following appropriate public consultation with local stakeholders, which include the overview and scrutiny committees (OSC) of local authorities.
	Where an OSC believes that a proposal to close a hospital is not in the interests of the local health service it can refer the matter to the Secretary of State, who may make a final decision on the proposal.
	The Department only maintains a record of decisions relating to service reconfiguration proposals that have been formally referred to the Secretary of State by an OSC.

Corporate Entertainment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much each  (a) NHS trust and  (b) primary care trust spent on musical instruments in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much each  (a) NHS trust and  (b) primary care trust spent on corporate entertainment in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Counselling Services

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the availability of counselling services as part of general practitioner services in the national health service; and what plans she has for future provision of such services.

Rosie Winterton: Counselling services are increasingly available in and through primary care services, however, the availability of these services is quite varied. The Healthcare Commission is therefore considering commissioning a detailed audit of the availability of psychological therapies within primary and secondary care. The Royal College of Psychiatrists' research and training unit is currently identifying priorities for this audit and planning how it will be conducted if it is commissioned.
	In addition, a programme to improve access to psychological therapies was launched in May 2006. This programme is considering the national requirements for evidence-based psychological interventions for common mental disorders as set out in the NICE guidance, and two demonstration sites have recently been established.
	The sites will test the theory that improved access to talking therapies can help tackle suffering, promote the well-being of the general population and have a significant economic impact by helping more people with depression or anxiety return to work or help them stay in employment.
	To date, the demonstration sites have seen in excess of 2,000 patients with depression and anxiety disorders, and early indications with regard to clinical outcome and overall patient satisfaction are very favourable.

Crisis Resolution Teams

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the  (a) role and  (b) budget of each crisis resolution team.

Rosie Winterton: Crisis resolution home treatment teams (CR/HT) are set up to engage with adults aged 16 to 65 years who experience severe mental illness with an acute psychiatric crisis such as schizophrenia, a manic or a severe depressive disorder. Patients are treated in the community, rather than as hospital in-patients to minimise any disruption to their lives.
	Financial data on CR/HT teams is not collected centrally. Mental health strategies collect information on planned investment in adult mental health services for the Department. Planned investment in 2005-06 for crisis resolution/home treatment teams was 155 million.
	The responsibility for providing and commissioning mental health services within the national health service rests with provider trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) respectively. It is for PCTs and provider trusts, in conjunction with their strategic health authorities to plan and develop services according to the needs of their local communities.

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the difference between the  (a) originally anticipated level and  (b) actual level of patient charge income under new general dental services contracts and personal dental services agreements.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts to monitor and manage patient charge revenue locally in the context of managing their overall net financial commitments. The Department is not in a position to make a reliable estimate of patient charge revenue at national level ahead of receiving final outturn data for the full financial year. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care will be publishing information on income from dental patient charges in due course.

Departmental Computer Data

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any corrupt data have been detected on her Department's computer systems.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not keep records about individual instances when data have been detected as being corrupt. The Department has robust data recovery procedures that, in most situations, enable information that becomes lost by whatever means, including corruption, to be recovered.

Departmental Energy Policy

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make her Department carbon neutral.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its London administrative estate by 2012. This is in line with Government-wide targets.
	We are currently working with the Carbon Trust and others to minimise our overall energy efficiency. Carbon emissions from unavoidable energy consumption will be offset from 2012.
	This information relates only to the Department's main London estate. The Department also occupies a building in Leeds, where the major occupier is Department of Work and Pensions, and another building in London where the major occupier is HM Revenue and Customs. Both these Departments are subject to the same Government-wide targets. We will be doing whatever we can, such as encouraging our staff to save energy, to support them in meeting the targets.

Diabetes: Pregnant Women

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the merits of the introduction of pin-prick blood tests for diabetes for pregnant women.

Ivan Lewis: Routine screening of all women for diabetes is not recommended. However, selective screening of women with high-risk factors such as a family history of diabetes, a current or previous big baby and recurrent glycosuria in pregnancy are indicators for testing by a glucose tolerance test. Health care providers should remain alert throughout the entire antenatal period to signs or symptoms of conditions which affect the health of the mother and foetus, including diabetes.

Diabetes: Pregnant Women

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of babies who died before birth as a result of undiagnosed maternal diabetes in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Data on mortality rates of babies who died before birth as a result of undiagnosed maternal diabetes is not collected.

Folic Acid

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive a formal recommendation from the Food Standards Agency on the fortification of flour with vitamin folic acid; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We expect to receive this advice during the summer. The agency's board will be taking into account the results of the current public consultation on options to improve the folate status in young women, consumer research and the final report of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition in developing its recommendations.

Folic Acid

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the take- up of vitamin folic acid by women adjacent to the time of contraception in the  (a) (i) C2 and (ii) DE demographic groups and  (b) (A) under 24 years of age and (B) over 25 years of age groups; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The United Kingdom national infant feeding survey takes place every five years and asks mothers about the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy. In 1995, three-quarters (75 per cent.) were aware of the benefits of taking folic acid and this increased to over nine out of 10 (92 per cent.) by 2000. Most women who knew of the increased benefits of taking folic acid had taken some action to increase their intake of folic acid. Three in 10 (31 per cent.) had changed their diets and almost three-quarters (73 per cent.) had taken supplements, with some women doing both. The 2000 survey was not able to differentiate whether the action was prior to conception or after they were aware that they were pregnant. The report did not provide any further breakdown based either on age or demographic groups.
	The results of the 2005 national infant feeding survey are expected in spring 2007.
	The health survey of England provides more up-to- date information on the use of folic acid supplements prior to and during pregnancy for mothers who had planned their pregnancy. Nearly four out of five mothers (79 per cent.) reported increasing their folate intake during pregnancy. The proportion of mothers taking action increased with age from 32 per cent. for those aged 16 to 24 up to 60 per cent. for those 35 years and older. Slightly more than four in 10 (43 per cent.) mothers in the most socio-economically deprived areas were likely to increase their folate intake compared with seven in 10 (70 per cent.) mothers in the least socio-economically deprived areas.

Food Standards Agency

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what science-based studies underpinned the Food Standards Agency's food labelling traffic light scheme; and what plans she has to extend the scheme to the catering sector.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency's (FSA) front-of-pack signpost recommendations for a traffic light labelling approach for use in retail outlets is supported by extensive scientific research and consultation with stakeholders.
	A programme of consumer research was carried out during 2004 and 2005 to test various signposting approaches, comprising a series of studies that provided information on:
	Preferencewhat signpost formats appeal to consumers;
	Performancehow consumers use and understand the information provided in signposts;
	Executiondesign of strongest performing signposts; and
	Application of signpostthe foods consumers want signposting applied to.
	The full reports of this research have been published on the agency's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/foodlabellinq/signpostinq/siognpostlabelresearch/
	The FSA encourages restaurants, caterers and cafs to provide more detailed information about the nutritional content of the food they serve to help consumers to be able to identify healthy food choices. There are no current plans to recommend the use of the agency's approach to signpost labelling in catering establishments this will be considered with stakeholders once the United Kingdom-wide signposting scheme for pre-packaged foods has been implemented effectively.

Foundation Trusts

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will change the relevant rules to give members of Governors Councils of Foundation Trusts who are not members of committees of the Council the right to attend meetings of those committees.

Andy Burnham: The circumstances of each national health service foundation trust (NHSFT) are different, which is why the legislative framework for NHSFTs gives them freedoms of local flexibility to tailor their governance arrangements to their individual circumstances and those of their community, over and above minimum legal requirements.
	It is up to each NHSFT to consider whether to set up committees or sub-committees of its board of governors and determine the circumstances under which these should operate. Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2003 states that the constitution of each NHSFT must include details on the practice and procedure for the board of governors, and may also make other provision about the board of governors as the trust sees fit. Reasons for exclusion from meetings are determined locally.

Health Care Professionals: Recruitment

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1029, on recruitment of health care professionals, how the Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals is enforced with respect to nurses trained in, or nationals of, developing countries.

Rosie Winterton: NHS employers monitor the adherence of trusts and commercial recruitment agencies used by the national health service to the principles of the code of practice for the international recruitment of healthcare professionals.
	The code of practice proscribes the active recruitment of healthcare professionals from developing countries listed on the NHS Employers website, regardless of their nationality or country of qualification.

Health Professionals: Confidentiality

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the review of confidentiality obligations placed on health professionals as they relate to criminal investigations concerning the potential transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

Caroline Flint: The Department's Policy consultation on Confidentiality and Disclosure of Patient InformationHIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection closed on 31 October 2006. We received over 70 replies, which officials are currently considering. This consultation is separate from the Crown Prosecution Service's recent consultation on prosecuting cases following the sexual transmission of infections which cause grievous bodily harm.

Healthy Living Social Marketing Strategy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to launch the healthy living social marketing strategy.

Caroline Flint: The purpose of the healthy living social marketing strategy is to identify the behaviours that need to be influenced as part of our strategy to tackle obesity. These goals were shared with stakeholders on 19 October 2006. This was followed by a successful public stakeholder event on 15 December 2006, involving many external partners. Following this event, we are refining our approach and this will be made public as part of the first wave of social marketing campaigns by March 2007.

Healthy Start Scheme

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) the West Midlands and  (b) Coventry have received vouchers to buy milk, fruit and vegetables under the Healthy Start scheme since its introduction.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Data relating to recipients of healthy start vouchers is collected by postcode. In the most recent distribution of healthy start vouchers covering the period 22 January 2007 to 18 February 2007, the number of recipients in postal sector CV, which largely corresponds to Coventry, is 5,712.

Heroin

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the National Health Service spent on the purchase of heroin for medicinal purposes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Heroin is known as diamorphine when used for medical purposes. Figures for use in the community are available for 1996 to 2005. Figures for use in hospitals are only available for 2001 to 2005.
	
		
			   000 
			   Community dispensingnet ingredient cost  Estimated hospital cost  Estimated total 
			 1996 3,822.9   
			 1997 3,747.5   
			 1998 3,808.1   
			 1999 3,693.3   
			 2000 3,553.1   
			 2001 3,287.1 3,945.9 7,233.1 
			 2002 3,312.0 3,898.4 7,210.4 
			 2003 3,686.4 4,052.2 7,738.6 
			 2004 3,974.2 3,724.9 7,699.1 
			 2005 1,802.9 1,709.8 3,512.6 
		
	
	The use in 2005 was affected by production problems at a major manufacturer.

Hospital Visits

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department provides to strategic health authorities and NHS trusts considering reconfiguration of health services on the appropriate mix of  (a) clinical safety,  (b) health inequalities and access to health facilities in communities and  (c) the ability of families and friends to visit patients.

Andy Burnham: Reconfiguration of health services is a matter for the national health service locally.
	We would expect that a whole range of factors are taken into account to inform and determine any such decision.
	No significant changes to the reconfiguration of health services locally will take place without first consulting local people.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1358, on hospital infections, for what reason private hospitals and independent sector treatment centres are not required to report cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) Clostridium difficile; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Independent sector providers are not currently contractually required to report cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile-associated disease as the mandatory surveillance system only includes acute national health service trusts. The current independent sector reporting requirements are laid out in the Private and Voluntary Healthcare (PVH) Regulations 2001.
	Following publication of 'The Health Act 2006 Code of Practice for the Prevention and control of Health Care Associated Infections' we are considering how to implement similar provisions on HCAIs, including surveillance, in the independent sector and a consultation on the PVH regulations will be held in 2007.

Hygiene Posters

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what cost the Wet, Soap, Wash, Rinse, Dry poster, gateway reference 7562, posted to her Department's website on 19 December 2006, was developed; how many posters will be published; and at what total cost to the public purse.

Caroline Flint: 50,000 copies of the poster were designed, printed and disseminated at a total cost of 30,000.
	The poster was mailed to health centres, general practitioner surgeries, health promotion and health protection units, pharmacies, NHS Direct call centres, NHS walk-in centres, accident and emergency units and to consultants in communicable disease control. It was also cascaded to a wide range of communication leads within strategic health authorities and primary care trusts and made available as a downloadable resource on a range of websites.

Independent Treatment Centre: Preston

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consultation exercise is being undertaken on the proposal for a new independent treatment centre in Preston;
	(2)  which organisations will be consulted over the proposal for a new independent treatment centre at Preston;
	(3)  if she will take steps to ensure that the  (a) Foundation Trust,  (b) local hon. Members,  (c) local authorities and  (d) GPs are consulted on the proposal for a new independent treatment centre at Preston.

Andy Burnham: An eight-week consultation has recently been launched by the six primary care trusts (PCTs) in Cumbria and Lancashire to seek the views of the public on the planned establishment of a new clinical, assessment, treatment and support (CATS) service. The consultation runs from 15 January 2007 to 9 March 2007. The PCTs are consulting specifically on the details of the local implementation of CATS services in Cumbria and Lancashire, which fall into four areas: the location of the sites, their impact on the wider health services, how to ensure that they fit seamlessly into the pathway from GP referrer through to local hospital treatment, and the proposed clinical specialities.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1037-38W, on seasonal influenza, what her latest estimate is of the proportion of patients in each risk group whose health is deemed at risk from seasonal influenza who have received their seasonal influenza immunisation for the 2006-07 winter.

Caroline Flint: The information is as follows.
	
		
			  Flu vaccine uptake by end of December 2006 
			  Under 65 years of age and in a medical risk group  Percentage 
			 Chronic respiratory disease 39 
			 Chronic heart disease 51 
			 Chronic renal disease 37 
			 Chronic liver disease 28 
			 Diabetes 65 
			 Immunosuppression 31 
			 Those aged 65 and over 72 
			  Notes: 1. The December figure is based on the response rate of 90 per cent. from general practitioners practices in England.  2. Sentinel surveillance data from QResearch (based on 3,150 GP practices) suggests that by 14 January 2007 flu vaccine uptake in those 65 years and over was 73.5 per cent. in England.  Source:  Provisional national uptake data to the end of December 2006 has been collected by the Health Protection Agency. This data is collected on a monthly basis.

Influenza Pandemic

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had on the stockpiling of respirators for key workers in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Infection control guidance for the national health service, including the use of respirators, has been published at
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/17/54/04121754.pdf.
	A copy has been placed in the Library. Infection control guidance for a range of sectors is also being developed.
	We are currently considering how best to ensure that respirators are available for staff at greatest risk during a pandemic.

Influenza Pandemic

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been put in place to protect key workers in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, which is currently being revised, provides an outline of the key measures that have been put in place to protect the UK population. These include the purchase of enough antivirals to treat 25 per cent. of the population. Our stockpile should be adequate to treat those who fall ill in a pandemic of similar proportions to those that occurred during the 20th century. In particular, the following measures have been put in place to protect front-line healthcare workers.
	We have purchased 3.3 million doses of H5N1 vaccine which may be used to vaccinate front-line healthcare workers. A final decision regarding the use of this vaccine has not yet been made.
	We have recommended the use of face masks for healthcare professionals who would be working closely with infected patients. In particular, we recommend that those healthcare workers performing procedures that have the potential to generate aerosols should wear FFP3 respirators. We are currently considering whether we should centrally procure and stockpile FFP3 respirators and facemasks for health professionals, and a decision will be reached as soon as possible.

Mixed-sex Wards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the reports she received on mixed- sex wards from strategic health authorities on 11 December 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The information gained from strategic health authorities will inform the future direction of this policy area. The timescale for any publication is yet to be determined.

Mixed-sex Wards

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) male-only wards,  (b) female-only wards,  (c) mixed sex wards and  (d) wards divided by partition into male and female areas there are in each hospital in East Sussex.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Between 1998 and 2005, the provision of single-sex accommodation was measured according to as compliance at national health service trust level with three objectives set by the Department. These objectives have been superseded by the core national standards presented in Standards for Better Health.
	The core standards require that:
	(C13a) Staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect and
	(C20b) Health care services are provided in environments which promote effective care and optimize health outcomes by being supportive of patient privacy and confidentiality.
	Currently, five trusts report that they do not meet Standard C13a and 15 trusts report that they do not meet standard C20b.
	Previously, compliance was measured annually at trust level. The results of the most recent compliance survey (December 2004) show that:
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity;
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill;
	97 per cent. of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
	The small number of hospitals that did not achieve these objectives are building new hospitals.
	The 2004 position of each NHS Trust (including the NHS trusts in East Sussex) was published on 26 May 2005 and is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk and in the Library.

Mixed-sex Wards

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) male-only wards,  (b) female-only wards,  (c) mixed sex wards and  (d) wards divided by partition into sexes there are in each hospital in Shropshire and Telford.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Between 1998 and 2005, the provision of single-sex accommodation was measured according to compliance at national health service trust level with three objectives set by the Department. These objectives have been superseded by the core national standards presented in Standards for Better Health.
	The core standards require that:
	(C13a) Staff treat patients, their relatives and carers with dignity and respect; and
	(C20b) Health care services are provided in environments which promote effective care and optimize health outcomes by being supportive of patient privacy and confidentiality.
	Currently, five NHS trusts report that they do not meet Standard C13a and 15 NHS trusts report that they do not meet standard C20b.
	Previously, compliance was measured annually at trust level. The results of the most recent compliance survey (December 2004) show that:
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and had robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity;
	99 per cent. of NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill; and
	97 per cent. of NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
	The small number of hospitals who did not achieve these objectives are building new hospitals.
	The 2004 position of each NHS trust, including the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, was published on 26 May 2005 and is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk and in the Library.

National Framework for Continuing Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department expects to respond to the feedback from its consultation on the National Framework for Continuing Care.

Ivan Lewis: We received a large response to the consultation, which raised a number of important issues which have needed careful consideration. We intend to publish our response in the near future.

National School Fruit Scheme

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the National School Fruit Scheme since its launch in 2001.

Caroline Flint: The school fruit and vegetable scheme (SFVS) was originally piloted in more than 500 schools throughout England in 2000 and 2001, to examine the practicalities of the scheme before rolling it out nationally. The scheme was expanded region by region with 42 million from the Big Lottery Fund and rolled out across all the English regions by November 2004. The scheme is now fully funded by the Department.
	All four to six-year-old children in local education authority (LEA) maintained infant, primary and special schools throughout England are now eligible to receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable every school day. Close to two million children in over 16,500 schools across England (99.3 per cent. of eligible schools) are currently receiving a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.
	The Big Lottery Fund commissioned an evaluation of the scheme and published the results in September 2005. The full report and findings are available on the BLF website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index/publications-uk A further evaluation measuring the longer-term impact of the scheme on children's diets has been commissioned, with the results expected in spring 2007.

Neural Tube Defects

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many infants were born live with neural tube defects in England and Wales in the last period for which statistics have been collated; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 22 January 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many infants were born live with neural tube defects in England and Wales in the last period for which statistics have been collated. (116920)
	The National Congenital Anomaly System for England and Wales (NCAS) received 70 notifications of live born infants with a mention of neural tube defect(1,2) in 2005 (the latest year available).
	The number of notifications received is likely to be less than the actual number of infants born with an anomaly. NHS Trusts provide these notifications to NCAS on a voluntary basis, either on forms sent to ONS or via local congenital anomaly registers. The recording of congenital anomalies is more complete in those areas where a register operates, because the register can obtain additional information locally. In 2005, registers covered 45 per cent of births in England and all births in Wales.
	Of the 70 notifications mentioned above, 43 were from areas covered by a register and 27 were from areas without a register.
	(1) Neural tube defects are defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes Q00, Q01 and Q05, and include anencephaly, iniencephaly, encephalocele and spina bifida.
	(2 )Births to mothers resident in England and Wales only.

NHS: Non-EU Citizens

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many non-EU citizens used NHS services in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06;
	(2)  how many non-EU citizens who have used NHS services have unpaid invoices outstanding relating to their treatment; what the value is of such outstanding invoices; and what procedures are in place to ensure that outstanding invoices are settled.

Rosie Winterton: Successive Governments have not required the national health service to provide statistics on the number of overseas visitors seen, treated or charged under the provisions of the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, nor any costs involved. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

NHS Dentistry

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the  (a) adult and  (b) child population of (i) Selby and York primary care trust area, (ii) North Yorkshire primary care trust area, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) England was registered with an NHS general dental practitioner in 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The last information on adult and child registrations was published in August 2006 by the Information Centre for heath and social care as part of its NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report for England for 31 March 2006. The following table shows the number of patients registered with dentists in the relevant primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) areas, expressed as a proportion of the populations for those areas. The boundaries for some strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) have changed since March 2006.
	Under the new arrangements for primary dental care services, access is no longer measured through registrations but through the number of patients seen within the most recent 24-month period. Combined data for adults and children are available for the 24-month periods ending 30 June 2006 and 30 September 2006. The Information Centre will publish the first separate data for adults and children in March 2007 as part of its publication covering the quarter ending 31 December 2006.
	
		
			  General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS): proportion of the population registered with a dentist, by child and adult, by specific PCT, specific SNA and England as at 31 March 2006 
			  Percentage 
			   Adults  Children  All 
			 Selby and York PCT 50 76 55 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 47 66 51 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 50 65 54 
			 South Yorkshire SHA 55 71 59 
			 England 45 64 49 
			  Notes: 1. The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. PCT and SHA areas were defined using the Office for National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory. 2. The data cover patients registered with dentists providing general dental services or personal dental services. They exclude patients receiving dental services provided by the community dental services, by hospitals or in prisons. 3. The data cover patients registered with dentists in the relevant PCT and SHA areas, regardless of the patient's area of residence. Expressing the data as a proportion of the resident populations for the relevant PCT and SHA areas can therefore provide only a proxy for the proportion of the population registered with a dentist. 4. 2006 population data have been estimated using Office for National Statistics 2004 mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 census as these are the latest available. 5. The boundaries used are as at 31 March 2006.  Sources: 1. The Information Centre for health and social care. 2. NHS Business Services Authority (BSA). 3. Office for National Statistics.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total capital value is of each local improvement finance trust scheme overseen by her Department which has reached financial close, broken down by scheme; over what period repayments will take place; and what the total cost of repayment for each such scheme will be.

Andy Burnham: The Department oversees the financial close on tranches of schemes with a capital value of over 25 million. Other schemes are approved by strategic health authorities. The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Estimated lease plus payments for all LIFT schemes over 25 million that have reached financial close 
			  LIFT area  LIFT scheme, PCT  Operational status( 1)  Estimated total capital value  ( million)  Estimated total lease plus payments to end of contract  ( million)( 2, 3)  Period of lease in years 
			 Greater Notts Stapleford Care Centre (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Open 11 41 25 
			 Greater Notts Clifton Cornerstone (Nottingham City PCT) Open 8.8 41 25 
			 Greater Notts Park House Health  Social Care Centre (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Open 7.5 27.3 25 
			 Greater Notts Mary Potter Joint Access Centre (Nottingham City PCT) Under Construction 14.6 58.1 25 
			 Greater Notts Keyworth Health Centre, Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT Under Construction 4.7 17.1 25 
			 Colchester  Tendring Colchester Primary Care Hub (North East Essex PCT) Open 18 71.7 25 
			 Colchester  Tendring Fryatt Hospital  Mayflower Medical Centre (North East Essex PCT) Open 16 47.8 25 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith  Hounslow Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health (Hounslow PCT) Under Construction 21.8 61.5 25 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith  Hounslow Cloister Road GP Practice (Ealing PCT) Open 1.3 3.1 25 
			 Bromley, Bexley  Greenwich Beckenham Hospital (Bromley PCT) Under Construction 36 95.6 25 
			 Lambeth, Southwark  Lewisham Walden Primary Care Centre (Lewisham PCT) Under Construction 13.4 44.4 25 
			 Lambeth, Southwark  Lewisham Central Streatham Primary Care Centre (Lambeth PCT) Under Construction 8.8 36.2 25 
			 Lambeth, Southwark  Lewisham Southwark Child Development Centre (Southwark PCT) Under Construction 8.5 30.7 25 
			 North Notts Ashfield Health Village (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Under Construction 4.5 17.1 25 
			 North Notts Balderton Health Centre (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Under Construction 3.3 13.7 25 
			 North Notts Bull Farm Primary Care Resource Centre (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Under Construction 2.8 10.2 25 
			 North Notts Harworth Primary Care Centre (Bassetlaw PCT) Under Construction 5.1 17.1 25 
			 North Notts Rainworth Health Centre (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Under Construction 3 10.2 25 
			 North Notts Retford Primary Care Centre (Bassetlaw PCT) Under Construction 10.4 44.4 25 
			 North Notts Warsop One Stop Shop (Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT) Under Construction 4.3 17.1 25 
			 (1 )Lease Plus payments only start once the facility is operational to an agreed standard (2) The figures above are expressed in nominal termsi.e. the Department has applied a deflator (RPIthe one normally used in contracts) to the baseline figure submitted the Trust or PCT concerned. Figures will therefore vary as a result of changes to RPI. (3 )For Lease Plus for all schemes includes the costs of the private sector partner providing Hard (building maintenance) FM services over the lifetime of the contract

NHS Finance

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial position was of each  (a) primary care trust and  (b) hospital trust in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Details of the financial position for primary care trusts (PCTs) and national health service trusts for the years 1997-98 to 2004-05 are available in the Library.
	Our published quarter two, 2006-07 NHS finance report contains the details of the financial position for NHS Trusts and PCTs at the end of 2005-06, and the latest quarter two forecast out-turn position for 2006-07. Copies are also available in the Library.
	The quarter three NHS finance report will be published in February.

NHS Maintenance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total estimated cost of backlog maintenance was in the NHS in each financial year since 1997-98.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is in the table. Investment to reduce backlog maintenance will be prioritised locally based on risk assessment, reconfiguration planning and available resources. The majority of the backlog maintenance relates to low priority work which will be undertaken through ongoing maintenance programmes. Where higher risks are present, work will be undertaken as a priority.
	
		
			  Total backlog maintenance 
			million 
			 1997-98 2,836 
			 1998-99 3,027 
			 1999-2000 3,108 
			 2000-01 3,242 
			 2001-02 3,378 
			 2002-03 3,517 
			 2003-04 3,193 
			 2004-05 3,142 
			 2005-06 3,684 
		
	
	The data is as provided by the national health service and has not been amended centrally. Its accuracy and completeness is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

NHS Operating Framework Podcast

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the podcast made by the NHS chief executive on the importance of the 'NHS Operating Framework 2007-08' published on the departmental website on 11 December 2006 has been downloaded; and at what cost the podcast was produced.

Ivan Lewis: The webpage containing the podcast made by the national health service chief executive on the importance of the 'NHS Operating Framework 2007-08', published on the Department's website on 11 December 2006, received 6,033 visits between 11 December 2006 and 7 January 2007. It is not possible to know exactly how many of those page visits resulted in a download, as our software is currently unable to measure that.
	The production cost was 2,496.32 (excluding VAT).

NHS Trust Directors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the  (a) socio-economic profile,  (b) ethnic origin and  (c) gender of NHS trust ex-officio board directors in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Rosie Winterton: An assessment of the socio-economic profile, ethnic origin and sex of national health service trust ex-officio board directors has not been undertaken as this information is not collected centrally.

NHS Trust Directors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of  (a) hospital and  (b) primary care trust ex-officio directors are from a (i) business, (ii) accountancy and (iii) NHS background.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS Work Force

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to offer guarantees of employment in the NHS to students leaving healthcare-related training.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans to offer guarantees of employment in the national health service to newly qualified health professionals. The Department has worked closely with NHS employers and published guidance to support local NHS organisations, to help them maximise employment opportunities and to ensure the health and social care services do not lose the skills of displaced staff or new graduates.

NICE Guidance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the savings to the NHS budget that are likely to be made following National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on drug treatments since its inception, broken down by individual guidance type; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Each technology appraisal and clinical guideline published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) contains an estimate of the cost and savings to the national health service associated with its implementation. The following table lists the guidance where NICE has estimated a potential saving to the NHS in spending on drug treatments.
	
		
			  Estimated potential annual savings in drug spend, England 
			  NICE guidance topic   million 
			  Technology appraisal  
			 Proton pump inhibitors 45 
			 Pioglitazone for type two diabetes 12 
			 Capecitabine and tegafur with uracil for metastatic colorectal cancer 16 
			 Capecitabine for locally advance breast cancer 1.2 
			 Glitazones for type two diabetes (review) 16 
			 Rheumatoid arthritisanakinra 0.07 
			 Atopic dermatitis (eczema)topical steroids 31 
			   
			  Clinical guideline  
			 Post-traumatic stress disorder 10.8 
			 Depression in adults 10 
			 Depression in children and adolescents 1.98 
			 Tuberculosis 0.13 
			 Obesity 13.9 
			 Total 158.08

North Yorkshire Funding

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocations the Government made to health authorities up to 2002-03 and primary care trusts since then in North Yorkshire in each year since 1996-97  (a) in cash terms and  (b) at constant prices; and what allocations are planned to the new North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust in each of the next five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is set out in the tables. Table 1 shows allocations in cash terms and in 2006-07 constant prices to North Yorkshire Health Authority (HA) between 1996-97 and 2002-03. Table 2 shows allocations in cash terms and in 2006-07 constant prices to primary care trusts (PCTs) in North Yorkshire between 2003-04 and 2007-08.
	The Department has not yet planned allocations to PCTs beyond 2007-08.
	
		
			  Table 1: Revenue allocations to North Yorkshire (HA) 
			   Allocation  Real terms allocation in 2006-07 prices 
			 1996-97 291,504 371,722 
			 1997-98 303,427 375,990 
			 1998-99 318,712 385,142 
			 1999-2000 434,879 515,108 
			 2000-01 474,576 554,334 
			 2001-02 512,685 584,960 
			 2002-03 566,781 627,278 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Revenue allocations to PCTs in North Yorkshire 
			   Craven, Harrogate and Rural District  Hambleton and Richmondshire  Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale  Selby and York 
			   Allocation  Real terms allocation in 2006-07 prices  Allocation  Real terms allocation in 2006-07 prices  Allocation  Real terms allocation in 2006-07 prices  Allocation  Real terms allocation in 2006-07 prices 
			 2003-04 166,668 179,131 91,187 98,006 138,792 149,170 216,207 232,374 
			 2004-05 181,585 189,935 99,349 103,917 152,118 159,113 235,557 246,389 
			 2005-06 197,111 202,399 107,843 110,736 166,123 170,580 255,791 262,654 
			 2006-07 235,518 235,518 129,360 129,360 198,010 198,010 307,131 307,131 
			 2007-08 254,740 248,029 139,918 136,232 216,805 211,094 335,917 327,068

Pacesetters Project

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to her Department was of the Pacesetters project; and what programmes operated over the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: 1,783,000 is allocated to the Pacesetters Programme in 2006-07.
	The Pacesetters Programme is a collaboration between the Department and up to five strategic health authorities (SHAs) and three trusts in each of their areas. The aim is to effect lasting and transformational change in the way in which equality and diversity is addressed in the commissioning and delivery of health services. To date, considerable work has focused on laying firm foundations. This has involved both the Department and the SHAs in making appointments to the programme, compiling baseline data, running learning workshops, engaging with local stakeholders and communities (some of whom are hard to reach), and undertaking other essential background pieces of work. As a result the SHAs and participating trusts have been able to select the change ideas that they will work on in the coming years. In addition, the programme has been successfully launched in one SHA area and further launches are planned for the coming months.

PCT Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how her Department determines the level of funding to be allocated to each primary care trust.

Andy Burnham: Funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each PCTs' target share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The components of the formula are used to weight each PCT's crude population according to their relative need (age, and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (market forces factor).
	The weighted capitation formula is used to set targets, which then inform allocations. The formula does not determine allocations. Actual allocations reflect decisions on the speed at which PCTs are brought nearer to target through the distribution of extra funds (pace of change policy). Pace of change policy is decided by Ministers for each allocations round.
	For the latest allocations round, covering the period 2006-07 and 2007-08, it has been decided to move PCTs more quickly towards their fair share of funds. In 2003-04, the most under-target PCT was 22 per cent. under target. However, moving to reach target allocations in one three-year set of allocations was not possible. The 2006-08 revenue allocations move PCTs more quickly towards their target shares and by the end of 2007-08, no PCT will be more than 3.5 per cent. below its fair share.

PFI

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the long-term liabilities of the private finance initiative (PFI) investment referred to on page 44 of her Department's annual report 2006 are; what the total buy-back option is; and what total annual expenditure on these areas was before the PFI contracts were signed.

Andy Burnham: The figures for private finance initiative (PFI) investment on page 44 of the Departmental Report 2006 show the Department's estimate for costs that are incurred by private sector contractors during the years in question in building hospital facilities that will be made available to the national health service under PFI contracts. The figures do not represent liabilities because the schemes are regarded under accounting standards as being 'off balance sheet'.
	Under a PFI contract, trusts may terminate the contract with notice at any time, without having to prove right and regardless of any prejudice to the private sector. Under these circumstances, compensation would be payable to the contractor on a trust default basis aiming to put the contractor in a position that is no better, no worse than it would have been had the contract run for its full length. A value-for- money case for exercising this option must be made.
	In working up their preferred option in the business case process, which is developed into the eventual PFI solution, trusts re-assess fundamentally their service configuration and patient pathways, taking on board the provision of new IT, equipment, new construction methods and innovations. It is therefore not possible to directly compare like-for-like annual expenditure before and after a PFI contract is signed.

PFI

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the largest private finance initiative project to date has been; what the Department's buy-back option on the project is; what the annual cost to the Department is; and what the total cost to the Department will be on reversion of the contract.

Andy Burnham: The biggest private finance initiative project (PFI) to date is at Barts and the London NHS Trust worth 1 billion.
	Under a PFI contract, trusts may terminate the contract with notice at any time, without having to prove right and regardless of any prejudice to the private sector. Under these circumstances, compensation would be payable to the contractor on a trust default basis aiming to put the contractor in a position that is 'no better, no worse' than it would have been had the contract run for its full length. A value-for- money case for exercising this option must be made.
	A unitary payment of 96.4 million per annum (at April 2005 prices) will be paid by Barts and the London NHS Trust to its private sector partner once the building work is completed. As with all PFI contracts, the unitary payment will increase in line with the retail price index (RPI) each year and is subject to satisfactory performance under the payment mechanism.
	No compensation is paid to the contractor when the contract expires at the end of its full length (operational concession period is 32 years on this scheme) and the asset reverts back to the trust at no extra charge.

Physiotherapists

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for physiotherapists are expected in the NHS in each of the next three years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Political Party Donations

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) chairmen and  (b) chief executives of local primary care trusts have made declarations to her Department that they have made donations to the Labour Party; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information about the political activities of primary care trust chairs is held by the Appointments Commission and I have asked Sir William Wells to respond to the hon. Member's query directly.
	Regarding chief executives, I refer the hon. Member to the Code of Accountability which has been placed in the Library. National health service organisations are required to make their register of members' interests available to the public but there is no requirement for them to declare this to the Department.

Primary Care Trusts

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many newly appointed chairpersons of merged primary care trusts established on 1 October 2006  (a) are members of the Labour Party and  (b) have previously been elected as Labour councillors.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally by the Department. Information is, however, collected by the Appointments Commission on whether appointees have been politically active within the last five years. The Commission has been asked to respond directly to the hon. Member's question.

Recruitment Advertising

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on recruitment advertising in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The budget for recruitment advertising below senior civil service-level has been delegated to directorates over the period in question. The costs of advertising, as opposed to the other elements of recruiting could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sexual Health

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of sexually transmitted diseases there have been in the Lincolnshire Health Authority area in girls aged  (a) under 16 and  (b) under 18 in each year since 1999.

Caroline Flint: Total diagnoses of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics among females aged under 16 and females aged 16-19, in the Lincolnshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT), 1999 to 2005, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Females under 16  Females 16-69 
			 1999 10 248 
			 2000 14 258 
			 2001 22 257 
			 2002 19 328 
			 2003 26 339 
			 2004 22 412 
			 2005 29 436 
			  Notes: 1. Selected STIs include: infectious syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, anogenital herpes simplex (first attack), anogenital warts (first attack) and uncomplicated Chlamydia infection. 2. KC60 data is not available by age group 16-18, so the number of diagnoses for the age group 16-19 is presented.  3. Lincolnshire Health Authority has ceased to exist, however the boundaries are coterminous with the current Lincolnshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) boundaries. The table includes data since 1999 from all GUM clinics that currently belong to Lincolnshire Teaching PCT. This does not include data from North Lincolnshire PCT and North East Lincolnshire PCT.  4. The data available relate to diagnoses made in clinics in the Lincolnshire Teaching PCT, but as GUM clinics are open access services the individuals diagnosed are not necessarily resident in this PCT.   Source:  ST1 KC60 statutory returns from 1999 - 2005, Health Protection Agency.

Skin Cancer

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding her Department provided for  (a) skin cancer services and  (b) research into skin cancer in each of the last 10 years; and what the planned funding is for the 2007-08 financial year.

Rosie Winterton: Information on funding for cancer services is not available by cancer type.
	We do not hold information centrally on levels of funding spent on cancer care for each of the last 10 years, however we do have information for the three years to 2005-06. 3.4 billion was spent on cancer care in 2003-04 and this increased by 12 per cent. each year to 3.8 billion in 2004-05 and 4.3 billion in 2005-06.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Innovation.
	Available MRC expenditure on skin cancer research is shown in the table.
	
		
			   MRC Expenditure ( million) 
			 2000-01 1.3 
			 2001-02 3.0 
			 2002-03 1.75 
			 2003-04 2.0 
			 2004-05 (1)0.8 
			 (1) The drop in expenditure In 2004-05 is largely due to several grants having ended before expenditure on new awards was incurred. 
		
	
	The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS. Expenditure by the Department's national research programmes on projects related to skin cancer is shown in the table.
	
		
			   National Research Programmes Expenditure (000) 
			 1997-98 518 
			 1998-99 828 
			 1999-2000 577 
			 2000-01 367 
			 2001-02 139 
			 2002-03 24 
			 2003-04 18 
			 2004-05 20 
		
	
	The main part of the Department's research and development budget is allocated to, and managed by, organisations. These organisations account for their use of the allocations they receive from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer, however the returns do not identify research by cancer type. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including those concerned with site-specific cancers, can be found on the national research register at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/research

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to launch the communications campaign informing the public about the change to the law on smoking in public places; how much she expects to spend on the campaign in the financial year 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Communications activity is already underway to ensure businesses understand the implications of the legislation. The Department's smokefree communications activities include stakeholder engagement, direct mail to businesses, advertising, a website, freephone public helpline, printed publicity material and ongoing media relations.
	The website www.smokefreeengland.co.uk contains up-to-date information and resources about the legislation and regulation. All visitors are encouraged to register for regular email updates. The website is promoted on all smokefree communications.
	Although the initial work will take place directly with stakeholders and businesses, we will conduct more specific communications with the general public as we get closer to 1 July 2007. Budgets for 2007-08 are yet to be finalised but our communications plans run through to implementation.

Specialist Nursing Posts

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will meet  (a) NHS staff and  (b) other interested parties to discuss the provision of specialist nursing services for delivering treatment and care to patients with long-term conditions;
	(2)  whether there is a duty on local health trusts to honour written commitments to retain specialist nursing posts which have been funded by charitable organisations in return for that commitment to continue the post to which the agreement relates; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what her policy is on the establishment of specialist nurse posts through pump-priming schemes based on funding from charitable organisations; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives from the national health service, the Royal College of Nursing and other stakeholder groups, to discuss issues including the nursing work force. There are 404,161 nurses working in the NHS. This represents an increase of 85,305 or 27 per cent. since 1997.
	It is for local trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly; this includes provision of specialist nursing posts. Where agreements have been made for alternate funding of these posts, this is a local matter and concerns about these arrangements should be taken up locally.

Statistics

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the last five years the publication date of statistics produced by her Department has been changed; what the  (a) subject of the statistics,  (b) (i) original and (ii) final date of publication and  (c) reason for the delay was in each case; and who took the decision to delay the publication in each case.

Ivan Lewis: In accordance with the national statistics code of practice (2002), the statistics heads of profession in the Department of Health and The Information Centre for health and social care have final responsibility for determining, pre-announcing and, if necessary, altering the dates of publication of national statistics and other relevant statistics produced by their bodies.
	Any decision to change a pre-announced publication date will be based on a range of purely professional considerations such as the completeness of the underlying data, their fitness for purpose, the need for consistency and coherence, the need to promote widespread access and informed debate, or any earlier accidental or wrongful release. In reaching their decisions, the heads of profession will also take into consideration the detailed procedural guidance given in the national statistics protocol on release practices. Copies of the code and its 12 supporting protocols are available in the Library of the House, and are available at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/national_statistics/cop/default.asp
	The Department's compliance statement with the code of practice (which currently covers The Information Centre)is available at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Statistics/CodeOfPractice/fs/en
	There have been 11 occasions in 2006 when the statistics heads of profession in the Department of Health and The Information Centre have changed a pre-announced publication date. Records for previous years are not readily to hand and could be accessed only by incurring disproportionate cost. The details for 2006 are as follows:
	 1. Cancelled Operations, England: quarter ending December 2005 (non-national statistics published by DH)
	Original publication date: February 2006
	Final publication date: 3 March 2006
	Reason: The February month was announced in error.
	Who took decision: DH statistics communications manager in consultation with lead statistician.
	 2. Statistics on Patient Journeys: Hospital outpatient activity in 2003-04 and 2004-05first report and quality assessment of experimental data from patient level record systems (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: February 2006
	Final publication date: 31 July 2006
	Reason: external operational issues resulting from the impact of Hemel Hempstead fire on HES resources and systems.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	 3. NHS Staff 1995 to 2005 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: March 2006
	Final publication date: 24 April 2006
	Reason: operational issues.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1021.aspx
	 4. Sight Tests Volume and Workforce Survey 2005-06 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: March 2006 and delayed again from 27 July 2006
	Final publication date: 24 October 2006
	Reason: delayed from March for operational reasons and delayed from July for technical reasons.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	 5. Ambulance Services, England 2005-06 (national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: 15 June 2006
	Final publication date: 14 August 2006
	Reason: Concerns about data quality that subsequently resulted in a full DH audit of ambulance trusts.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician, colleagues in statistical governance and also the DH head of profession.
	Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1032.aspx and http://www.statscom. org.uk/C_1030.aspx
	 6. NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2005-06 (national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: September 2006
	Final publication date: 24 October 2006
	Reason: operational reasons.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	 7. Report of Hospital Prescribing 2005 (non-national statistics published by The Information Centre)
	Original publication date: 28 September 2006 (and delayed again from 31 October)
	Final publication date: 29 November 2006
	Reason: operational issues.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1043.aspx
	 8. Cervical Screening Programme 2005-06 (national statistics published by the Information Centre)
	Original publication date: October 2006
	Final publication date: 20 December 2006
	Reason: external data supply issues.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	Correspondence on Statistics Commission website: http.//www.statscom.org.uk/C_1043.aspx
	 9. Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983, England (national statistics published by the Information Centre)
	Original publication date: 31 October 2006
	Final publication date: 20 December 2006
	Reason: operational issues.
	Who took decision: Information Centre head of profession in consultation with senior data analyst/statistician and colleagues in statistical governance.
	 10. Waiting Times for suspected cancer patients: quarter ending 30 September 2006 (non-national statistics published by DH)
	Original publication date: 1 December 2006
	Final publication date: 29 November 2006
	Reason: To allow latest data to be accessible to all attendees of cross-party House of Commons conference on cancer, to promote informed debate.
	Who took decision: DH head of profession in consultation with senior DH analytical, policy, communication and private office colleagues.
	 11. NHS Inpatient and Outpatient Waiting Times figures: 30 November 2006 (non- national statistics published by DH)
	Original publication date: 29 December 2006
	Final publication date: 5 January 2007
	Reason: The 29 December.2006 date was announced in error as a result of miscalculation of the formula used to publish monthly waiting data. Correction was made as soon as the error was realisedthree months before publication.
	Who took decision: DH statistics communications manager in consultation with lead statistician.

Turnaround Teams

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the work of turnaround teams within West Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

Andy Burnham: The West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust was originally identified as a category 2 organisation (requiring urgent intervention) and received support from a turnaround director and a consultancy firm in the development of the trust's turnaround plan. Progress reports received by the national progress office indicate the trust is on track to deliver the plan.

Under-age Drinking

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many under 18-year-olds were treated for alcohol-related health problems in Shropshire in each year since 1991.

Caroline Flint: The number of patients under 18 years old treated for alcohol-related illness in Shropshire during the period 1998 to 2006 is shown in the table.
	Figures prior to 1998 are not available.
	
		
			  Provider name  Finished consultant episodes 
			  20005-06  
			 Shropshire County Primary Care Trust 0 
			 Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust 0 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital National Health Service Trust 0 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust 53 
			 Total 53 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 Shropshire County PCT * 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 0 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust * 
			 Total 46 
			   
			  2003-04( 1)  
			 Shropshire County POT 0 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 0 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust 32 
			 Total 32 
			   
			  2002-03( 2)  
			 Shropshire County PCT * 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 0 
			 The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust * 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust 22 
			 Total 39 
			  2001-02  
			 The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust * 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS 34 
			 Shropshire's Community and Mental Health Trust * 
			 Total 62 
			   
			  2000-01  
			 The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust * 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS 30 
			 Shropshire's Community and Mental Health Trust * 
			 Total 56 
			   
			  1999-2000  
			 The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust 39 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust 23 
			 Shropshire's Community and Mental Health Trust 0 
			 Total 62 
			   
			  1998-99  
			 The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust 33 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 0 
			 Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust 21 
			 Shropshire's Community and Mental Health Trust 0 
			 Total 54 
			 (1) From the year 2003-04 onwards the Princess Royal Hospital and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals merged into a single provider, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. (2) From the year 2002-03 onwards Shropshire Community and Mental Health Trust became Shropshire County PCT and Telford and Wrekin PCT.   Notes:  1. Data Quality: Hospital episode statistics (HES) are compiled  from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies  and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  2. Finished consultant episode (FCE): An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  3. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis): The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  4. Low numbers: Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between  1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk). To avoid calculation of suppressed values from the totals, the next lowest number has also been suppressed and replaced with an *.  5. Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Waiting Times

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been subject to medical deferral in each quarter of each of the last five years, broken down by acute hospital trust; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The number of medical deferrals are not collected centrally.
	Information is collected quarterly on the number of patients who were suspended from the list at the end of each quarter and the number on the list who had been deferred at some point during their wait. The number of suspensions cannot be split by those suspended for medical or social reasons.
	These figures are shown in the following table at England level. National health service trust based figures are available at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/index.htm
	
		
			  In-patient deferrals and suspensions from 2002-03 to 2006-07, commissioner based 
			  Quarter  Self-deferrals  Suspensions 
			  2002-03   
			 Q1 70,798 65,905 
			 Q2 76,725 71,187 
			 Q3 78,299 73,413 
			 Q4 70,400 72,362 
			
			  2003-04   
			 Q1 69,357 71,367 
			 Q2 73,597 69,199 
			 Q3 71,595 72,634 
			 Q4 65,103 78,583 
			
			  2004-05   
			 Q1 62,077 78,001 
			 Q2 60,649 74,695 
			 Q3 62,150 74,586 
			 Q4 57,753 71,818 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Q1 55,950 72,007 
			 Q2 61,705 73,085 
			 Q3 63,129 76,567 
			 Q4 60,264 68,546 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Q1 60,663 73,895 
			 Q2 62,928 67,125 
			  Source: Department of Health KH07a

Walk-in Health Centres

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many walk-in health centres in each borough in the Greater London area closed in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: Since the first national health service walk-in centre opened in Soho in 2000 none in the Greater London area have closed.